Special Incumbent Worker Program
Frequently Asked Questions
What constitutes an ‘Eligible Organization’ for the purposes of a Special Incumbent Worker Training Program application?
‘Eligible Organization’ refers to who is eligible to be the Grantee. An ‘Eligible Organization’ is defined as a state or local unit of government, nonprofit organization, community action agency, business organization or association, or labor organization.
Eligible organizations include MnSCU educational institutions, nonprofit educational or training organizations, nonprofit community based organizations and economic development authorities.
What constitutes a ‘Qualifying Employer’?
A ‘Qualifying Employer’ is defined as a for-profit business or nonprofit organization in Minnesota with at least one full-time employee. Public sector organizations are not considered qualifying employers.
All projects must include the participation of at least one qualifying employer that will match the grant funds on a one-to-one basis. This is often referred to as the ‘Contributing Business’ or ‘Participating Business’.
What constitutes an ‘Incumbent Worker’?
An ‘Incumbent Worker’ is defined as an individual employed by a qualifying employer.
Do the individuals to be trained have to be employed by the participating business?
Although trainees must be employed by a qualifying employer, they do not necessarily have to be employees of the business that is participating in the project. Under this scenario, the intention would be to train individuals who are underemployed or employed in low wage jobs who would then be hired by the participating business.
Who is allowed to provide the training for the incumbent workers?
Eligible training providers are Minnesota training and educational institutions or organizations that are accredited through institutional or specialized accrediting agencies that are recognized by the U. S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. This is the same criteria/requirement in place for most MJSP grant programs.
How can Special Incumbent Worker Training Program grant funds be used?
Grant funds may be used for direct training services to provide a measurable increase in the job-related skills of participating incumbent workers. Direct training costs include items such as instruction, curriculum development, project coordination, training materials and supplies and training equipment.
Eligible organizations may also provide basic assessment, counseling, and preemployment training services requested by the qualifying employer. No funds may be used for support services, such as tools, day-care, clothing etc. Grant funds are paid on a reimbursement basis at the end of each trimester.
What type of contributions from the participating business(es) count towards the match requirement?
The participating business(es) must match the grant with cash and/or in-kind contributions. Any cash contributed by the participating business must be applied directly to project costs to be considered a matching contribution. In-kind contributions may include items such as wages paid to employees while in training, training materials donated by the business, the pro-rated value of equipment used for training, training space, staff time for curriculum development and project coordination.
How can a business association be involved in these grants?
A business association could serve as the grantee or a linkage organization for a project. An association cannot serve as both the grantee and the participating employer. In most instances, an association would not be considered a participating employer. In projects involving a consortium of an association’s member businesses, each business that will participate in the project must be identified in the application and submit a letter of commitment.
Examples of possible involvement of an association include participation in curriculum development, coordinating training for its member businesses and being responsible for reporting requirements.
How can a nonprofit organization be involved in these grants?
A nonprofit organization association could serve as the grantee, or a linkage organization for a project. A nonprofit may also be a participating business when they meet the definition of a ‘qualifying employer’ and the intent is to train their employees.
A nonprofit cannot serve as both the grantee and the participating employer in a project. Examples of how a nonprofit organization can be involved in a project include assisting in curriculum development, providing project coordination, and providing basic assessment, counseling, and pre-employment training services.
Will certain types of projects receive preference for Special Incumbent Worker Training Program grants?
Yes, preference will be given to projects that apply creative training models, innovative partnerships, and/or the expansion or replication of promising practices. Preference will also be given to projects that incorporate English as a Second Language training directed at improving functional workplace English. Further preference will be given to applications that demonstrate a statewide or regional impact, a high level of collaboration amongst educational institutions and/or the participation of Centers of Excellence.
Who is responsible for reporting requirements?
Ultimately, the grantee is responsible for ensuring that all reporting requirements are met. However, the grantee may contract with a nonprofit organization, business association, or other organization to assist in meeting the reporting requirements.
What are the reporting requirements?
Reporting requirements will be similar to the reporting requirements for other MJSP grant programs. At the end of each trimester, a Narrative Report, Project Trainee Report, Financial Report and Request for Payment are required. The Narrative Report provides a narrative description of how the project is progressing.
The Project Trainee Report provides information on the trainees such as, the number that have been trained, the number of males, the number of females, the number of minorities, the number of trainees that have dropped out and wage information. The Financial Report and Request for Payment outline the costs incurred to-date and the costs for the report period for which reimbursement is being requested.
A Curriculum Report is due at the end of the first full trimester outlining the training to be provided. In addition, a Contributing Business Status Report is required every other trimester. This report is completed by the participating business(es) and provides a narrative description of how they feel the project is progressing.
How is this program different from the MJSP Partnership Program?
The main differences are as follows. 1) Under the Special Incumbent Worker Training Program, the trainees must be incumbent workers. Under the Partnership Program, trainees may be new or incumbent workers. 2) Under the Partnership Program, the grantee must be the educational institution. Under the Special Incumbent Worker Training Program several other organizations may serve as the grantee. 3) The Partnership Program places more emphasis on educational capacity building than the Special Incumbent Worker Training Program. 4) The Special Incumbent Worker Training Program places more emphasis on creative training models and innovative partnerships than the Partnership Program.