The Development Subsidy Job Accountability Act (P.L. 2007, c.200) requires that all applicants awarded a grant in excess of $25,000 complete the Development Subsidy Job Goals Accountability Form.  This form must be completed within 30 days after the State’s fiscal year for a period of five years after the Grant is awarded.  View Job Goals Development Subsidy Job Goals Accountability Act.  

The WDP law requires that if the company receiving financial assistance for customized training services relocates jobs out of State or outsources employee positions within three years following the closeout date of the customized training contract, the company must repay all monies provided to the company by the State for customized training services.

Applicant Requirements

Applicants for New Jersey’s Customized Training Grants for Fiscal Year 2011 must meet the following requirements:

Programmatic

• Adhere to the General Provisions of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s (LWD) Customized Training Grants
• Participating business(es) must be current on all New Jersey tax obligations and file a Tax Clearance form. Tax Clearance Form 
• Complete Development Subsidy Job Goals Accountability Act Form for grant requests of $25,000 or more. 
• Applicants must submit Three (3) years of complete financial statements with Accountant/Auditor Reports.  If fully audited financials are not available 3 years of Tax Returns, including schedules may be submitted.
• Must clearly identify the organizational needs to be addressed by the proposed training.
• Submit a narrative proposal that is consistent with the requested on-line Customized Training Tracking System (CTTS) application.
• Submit a Training Plan outlining completion of all training within the one year grant period.
• Provide a Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/Chief Operating Officer (COO) letter of support for the training.
• Identify type of training.  The training costs and hours must adhere to the cost per instructional hour and the number of training hours per course allowed by the Department.  Maximum cost per instructional hour is $200.
• Average cost of instruction per trainee shall not exceed $1,000.
• Provide an employer match of at least 50 percent of the total training cost.
• Maximum grant awards are set as follows and may be adjusted based on the availability of funds:  Businesses with 250 employees or less the maximum grant award will be $50,000.  Businesses with more than 250 employees’ the maximum award will be $75,000.  The maximum Consortium award will be $125,000.  Prior grantees with a proven successfully track record of exceptional training to multiple businesses and effective utilization of prior funding may be considered for a larger grant
• Business(es) must list newly created jobs with local One-Stop Career Centers or through Direct Employment/Job Central America’s Job Exchange.  Businesses must demonstrate a commitment to establish and maintain a working relationship with local One-Stop Career Centers to assist with the recruitment of new workers.  Information about local One Stop Career Center services is available at: http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/wnjpin/findjob/onestop/services.html
• Consortium applications must provide the Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) of all participating business(es).
• Participating business(es) must identify the number of full-time and permanent part-time workers to be trained.  If funds are requested to train permanent part-time workers, the applicant must provide an explanation of the training needs of the permanent part-time workers.  For a worker to be considered permanent part-time, the worker must work at least 20 hours per week on a permanent schedule.
• The business must clearly identify the name and location of the approved training provider(s).  For assistance in identifying an eligible training provider, visit http://lwd. dol.state.nj. us/labor/wfprep/coei/training/training_index.html
• The consortium must provide the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code of all participating business(es).  Additional information can be obtained at http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/.

Technical

Prepare applications using the on-line (CTTS) with the following personal computer requirements: 

• A personal computer with Window 98 operating system or higher, and with a connected printer;
• Internet Explorer browser, version 5.5 or higher and 128 bit cipher strength and active X enabled on the computer desktop; and
• Internet E-mail Address

• Online Pre-Qualification  Online Application in (CTTS) 
• Submission of a complete application packet including:
  • Supplemental Narrative to address Rating Criteria listed below 
  • Tax Clearance Form and Financial Need Determination
  • Supplemental one year Training Plan
  • CEO / COO Letter of Support
  • Active W-9 form filed with NJ Treasury

• Applicants must submit Three (3) years of complete financial statements with Accountant/Auditor Reports.  If fully audited financials are not available 3 years of Tax Returns, including schedules may be submitted.

Rating Criteria

A review panel will thoroughly review and evaluate the applications against the rating criteria listed below.

Company Information (Maximum of 15 points)

• The business(es) employs 100 or less employees.
• The business (es) employs 101 to 250 employees.
• The business(es) is located in an area designated as a Labor Surplus Area by the United States Department of Labor.

Special Points (Maximum of 15 points)

• Applicants utilizing training facilitated by competent instructors who are employed by an approved New Jersey based training provider on the Eligible Training Provider List.
• Applicants who successfully demonstrate past utilization of funding of 75% or greater.  OR
• Applicants applying for the 1^st time and never have received a Customized Training grant.

Expected Outcomes (Maximum of 70 points)

In the Company Description and Human Resource Development Plan narrative sections of the on-line application, each applicant should address the participating business information and training desired outcome measures listed below.  Since narrative information will likely exceed character limitations in the online application, a supplemental narrative must be submitted to the assigned Business Representative.  Applications will not be considered complete until the narrative information is received by the Business Representative.  Narrative must be submitted in the format below.
1. Training Plan

a. Is the training plan structured in a manner consistent with business needs such as; number of staff, multiple shifts, business operating hours? Is the plan achievable within the prescribed 12 month period?
b. Is the training plan aligned with the overall Organizational Development Plan?          Explain how the training will lead to specific tangible financial and/or organizational performance improvement.  Is there a demonstrable link between the proposed training and progress towards achieving measurable organization goals?

2. Please provide a justification of the need for the services and funding from the Office of Grants Operations, including information sufficient to demonstrate that significantly less training would be provided if the requested funding is not provided.

3. Explain how the training is focused on front-line workers involved in the direct production of goods or delivery of services?

4. Explain how the training will create new jobs or avert layoffs & minimize turnover? The applicant should describe how specific training would enable or prevent these outcomes.

a. If Job creation and/or business expansion is expected, answer the following questions.

1.  Explain how the training will allow for business expansion, creating new jobs      in New Jersey?
2.  Explain the number and timing of new hires to include the average income and job titles of anticipated new hires.
3.  Describe the procedure or process used to list newly created jobs with the One-Stop Career Centers or through Direct Employers/Job Central.

a. If the training is expected to avert layoffs and minimize turnover, answer the  following questions:

1. Explain how specific training will enhance the businesses ability to avert layoffs & minimize turnover.
2. Will the training increase worker skills to enhance their ability to remain as productive and valuable employees.

5. Explain how the training will result in a wage increase for the trainees and a projected timeline for wage increases to take effect.

6. Career Ladder. Please describe the progression for the employees for which the training grant funds are being requested.

 1.  Describe how the training will facilitate the trainees progression.
 2.  The career ladder should display occupations arranged by type of work and approximate yearly salary wages.

7. Will the requested training result in an industry recognized certification for the business or the trainees?  If so please explain.