The American Job Center (formerly CT Works) was created to help employers find people and to get people employed. It offers many programs to local companies with a need to expand their workforce. Realizing that manufacturing is a growth sector, they have created several programs that might be of interest to you.
To simplify it a bit more, the following highlighted text points out the differences between the programs. I have also provided a step by step process to begin working with your local workforce board.
Workforce Board Employment Programs
Recruitment
EWIB Recruitment Program
Description:
- Electronic Classified Advertising – Businesses can post job listings in the nation’s largest online labor exchange, create customized job orders, and search resumes automatically to find the right people.
- “Hot Jobs” email and Job Boards: Regularly updated postings of the positions you wish to fill in our local American Job Centers and with area agencies.
- On Site Recruitments – Use American Job Center East offices or one of our alternate sites for your employee recruitment. A recruitment can be set for your company alone or you might want to take advantage of any of the regional Job Fairs or Mini Job Fairs we co-sponsor.
- Applicant Matching – see the right applicants! A company needs the right mix of skills and experience in its hires. Let us help make that match. When you identify a new employee, we will help determine potential eligibility into one of the subsidized workforce development programs listed below.
Benefit:
- Recruitment services that are free of charge
Qualifications:
- Open to any manufacturer in the state of CT
Workforce Development
Step-up Program (Small Manufacturers’ Program)
Description:
- Subsidized Training and Employment program
Benefit:
- Provides reimbursement for new hires over the course of 6 months (not to exceed $12,500)
Qualifications:
- Manufacturer must…
- Have no more than 100 full time employees
- Been in business for more than a year and be in good standing with payment of state and local taxes
- Have training take place at business site
- New hire must be unemployed at least one day prior to hire date
- Any occupation
Ready to Work Program
Description:
- Offset hiring costs with salary reimbursement during on-the-job training
Benefit:
- Provides 50% (over 50 employees) to 75% (under 50 employees) salary reimbursement paid monthly during the on-the-job training
Qualifications:
- Any CT Company (not based on size)
- New hire must be an experienced long-term unemployed (27 weeks or more) or under-employed within the following occupations:
– IT
– Engineering
– Advanced Manufacturing
The Job Driven National Emergency Grant
Description:
- On-the-job training salary reimbursement to hire and train long-term unemployed, who are dislocated workers
Benefit:
- Provides 50% (over 50 employees) to 75% (under 50 employees) salary reimbursement paid monthly during the on-the-job training
Qualifications:
- Any CT Company (not based on size)
- New hire must be a dislocated worker (certified by CT Department of Labor) plus long-term unemployed, likely to exhaust benefits and within STEM occupations:
– Engineering
– Finance
– IT
– Advanced Manufacturing
– Science
NOTE:
- Long-Term Unemployed – 27 weeks or more.
- Under-Employed – working but not commensurate to previous position or appropriate for level of education and expertise.
- Dislocated – covers a wide range of unemployed, from a home maker entering the workforce to a large layoff or permanent closure of company.
So what’s next?
This all looks very interesting, but what does it all mean? With a majority of manufacturers looking for solid employees and not always knowing where to turn, it means a way of getting a workforce that’s productive in a shorter time frame, without the usual financial burden. Here’s how it would work…
Step 1 – Create a job description for the position you’d like to fill – onetonline.org is a good resource to use. If you need a human resources consultant, please contact CTmrg, and we will provide you with a vetted resource.
Step 2 – Contact the American Job Center (formerly CT Works) in your region and ask for a Business Services Representative. Ask about their recruitment services that range from job postings to resume searches. Discuss the position, determine the best program for you and begin the application process. When recruiting for new employees don’t forget to start with referrals from your own workforce.
Step 3 – Contact CTmrg for a vendor to discuss a Training Within Industry program
Step 4 – Create a proposal for the in-house training program
Step 5 – Fill out an application for the Voucher program
Step 6 – Follow-up, follow-up, follow-up
Your Financial Benefit
Your initial investment of time could pay off with huge savings. You could save up to $12,500 in salary reimbursement and at least $5,000 of voucher money by completing all 6 steps listed above. Receive the full benefit of free workforce support and save money doing it.
If you need assistance with the process, give us a call at 860-432-9977 and we can discuss a program that works best for you.