Overview
The goal of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and related workforce development programs is to increase the employment, retention, and earnings of individuals served; increase their occupational skill attainment; improve the quality of the workforce; reduce welfare dependency; and enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the nation.

Two programs that help to reach this goal are On-the-Job Training and Customized Job Training. Training is available for WIOA eligible participants. These programs are provided by contracts with employers in the public, private non-profit, and private for-profit sector. Contracts cannot be made with employers that exhibit a pattern of failing to provide OJT participants with the same wages, benefits, and working conditions as provided to regular employees that have worked a similar length of time or are doing the same type of work. Employers must commit to continue to employ OJT and CJT participants after successful completion of the training.

On-the-Job Training
On-the-Job Training (OJT) grant funds are provided to reimburse eligible employers for a percentage of participants’ wages up to a maximum amount of $6,500 per participant, not to exceed a total of $25,000.

Customized Job Training
Customized Job Training (CJT) grant funds are provided to reimburse eligible employers up to 75% of eligible training costs to meet specifications of the occupation prior to employment.

Requirements
Employers must adhere to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 or the applicable State or local minimum wage law. Health and safety standards established under Federal and State law otherwise applicable to working conditions of employees are equally applicable to working conditions of participants engaged in programs and activities under Title 1 of WIOA. Employers must ensure nondiscrimination and equal opportunity policies as well as nonparticipation in sectarian activities.

To receive WIOA funding employers cannot:

• Use WIOA funds to directly or indirectly promote or deter union organizing.
• Displace (including a partial displacement, such as reduction of hours of non-overtime work, wages or employment benefits) any current employee as of the date of participation with a WIOA OJT or CJT participant
• Assign a WIOA OJT or CJT participant to a job if an individual is on a layoff status from the same or equivalent job.
• Assign a WIOA OJT or CJT participant to a job if the employer has terminated the employment of any regular, unsubsidized employee or caused an involuntary reduction in its workforce with the intention of filling the vacancy with a WIOA eligible participant.

Requesting OJT or CJT Funds
To get the process started, please send a formal letter requesting assistance. The letter should include details about the company, its employee population, the nature and duration of its presence in Montgomery County, and specifics on the opportunity you would like the County to consider.