Training and Education : Scholarships and Grants

Training Assistance Scholarships

Regional Workforce Boards, Colleges and Universities offer a variety of scholarships to eligible individuals in Florida. These training assistance scholarships are grant-based programs funded by the state or federal government and private organizations.

Each scholarship has specific eligibility requirements. If you do not qualify for a training assistance program, we encourage you to explore alternative options for financial assistance for training. Please contact us at 386.754.4492 or email purie@lakecitycc.edu for further information about grants, scholarships, loans and/or other opportunities available.

Workforce Florida Assists Businesses With Worker Training Costs

Creating opportunities for workers in Florida to sharpen their skills and helping businesses maintain a competitive workforce edge are vital goals of two Workforce Florida-administered grant programs: Quick Response Training (QRT) and Incumbent Worker Training (IWT).
 
Both programs are key components of the state’s economic development tool kit. Each reimburses businesses for some of the expenses associated with upgrading workers’ skills.

Led by Florida business leaders, Workforce Florida, Inc., is a public-private organization that sets policy and oversees the state’s workforce system. It works closely with Florida’s 24 regional workforce boards, Enterprise Florida, Inc., and local economic development councils—with special outreach to rural and distressed communities—to award training grants through these two nationally recognized programs.

QRT and IWT, known for their low administrative overhead and lack of red-tape requirements, require businesses to invest matching money in training.
 

Quick Response Training

The QRT program provides grant funding for customized training to new or expanding businesses that produce exportable goods or services. Through this business-driven program, Florida is able to effectively retain and attract businesses creating new high-quality jobs. The program is structured to be flexible and to "respond quickly" to meet a business’s training objectives.

Established in 1993, QRT has provided customized training for more than 117,724 new jobs created through over 450 businesses.

Businesses that have received QRT grants include manufacturing or service operations and national and international headquarters. Reimbursable costs include those expenses related to specific, entry-level job training: salaries for instructors/trainers, curriculum development and textbooks/manuals.

Training can be conducted at the business’s facility, at the training provider’s facility, or at a combination of sites that best meet the business’s needs. Program instructors may be full- or part-time educators, vendors, subject matter experts or in-house professional trainers.

The Quick Response Training staff at Workforce Florida are available to provide technical assistance throughout the training program—from the application stage through contract execution, monitoring and fiscal closeout.
 

Incumbent Worker Training

The IWT program provides grant funding for customized training to existing for-profit businesses. Florida is able to effectively retain and keep businesses competitive through skills upgrade training for full-time employees.

Established in 1999, IWT has provided customized training for more than 84,400 employees at 770 businesses. IWT is designed to help established businesses maintain a competitive workforce. Businesses may use public, private, or in-house training providers to meet its training objectives.

Training may include industry or company-specific skills, technical and computer skills, and "soft-skills" such as leadership, teamwork, and management. Reimbursable costs include those expenses related to specific job training: salaries for instructors/trainers, curriculum development, textbooks/manuals and materials/supplies.
 
Program instructors may be full- or part-time educators, vendors, subject matter experts or in-house professional trainers. IWT program staff members at Workforce Florida monitor, evaluate and provide fiscal and grant compliance oversight during the training process. 

For more information, please contact the Banner Center at 386.754.4492 or e-mail bannercenter@lakecitycc.edu.