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Missouri New Jobs
Training Program
The New Jobs
Training Program (NJTP) provides education and
training to workers employed in newly created
jobs in Missouri. The new jobs may result from a
new industry locating in Missouri or an existing
industry expanding its workforce in the state.
NJTP is administered through Missouri's
community college districts. In St. Joseph, NJTP
services are provided by the Metropolitan
Community Colleges system.
The program provides
assistance in reducing the cost associated with
expanding a workforce or locating a new facility
through these training services:
Customized training
designed for the specific needs of the industry
- Adult basic
education
- General
occupational skill training
- On-the-job training
(OJT)
Training assistance can
include skill assessment, orientation,
pre-employment training, training facilities and
equipment, instructor salaries, curriculum
development, travel, and a variety of other
training-related services. Through OJT, the
employer can receive a reimbursement of up to
50% of wages paid to workers in the new jobs.
The OJT benefits may be in effect up to six
months for each new job.
Eligible businesses
include manufacturing, processing, and
assembling firms, as well as companies that
conduct research and development, or that
provide services in interstate commerce. Retail
businesses and health and professional services
do not qualify for the program.
Funds to pay for the
training are provided through certificates that
are repaid using a portion of the new employees'
state withholding tax for a period of up to 10
years. The certificates are sold through the
local community college district. The tax
withholding is equal to 2.5% of gross wages for
the first 100 new jobs, and 1.5% for the
remaining new jobs. To repay the training and
certificate costs, the tax withholding for
projects in excess of $500,000 may be claimed up
to eight years, and those projects not in excess
of $500,000 may be claimed up to 10 years.
Missouri Customized
Training Program
The Missouri
Customized Training Program (MCTP) helps
Missouri employers with funding to offset the
costs of employee training and retraining. It
assists new and expanding businesses in
recruiting, screening, and training workers, and
it helps existing employers retain their current
workforce when faced with needed upgrading and
retraining.
The MCTP, through local
education agencies, will help an employer
identify training needs and develop a training
program unique to the employer's needs. MCTP
staff will help the employer customize a
comprehensive training program, which can
include classroom skill training, on-site or in
cooperation with the local school system, as
well as on-the-job training (OJT), and
task-oriented profiling.
Examples of expenses
which might be covered under the program are:
- Curriculum
development
- Instructor salaries
- Instructional
supplies
- Vendor trainers
- Pre-employment
training
- Up to 50% of OJT
trainee's wages
Programs are
custom-designed to meet the specific needs of
the companies involved:
Employers have options
for building their workforce. Working closely
with the company's personnel department, MCTP
can help recruit, screen and test potential
trainees. Assistance is also available in
developing job classifications, job
specifications, and interviewing techniques.
Classroom skill training
can take place at the work site, at local
educational centers, or a combination of both.
Instructors may be provided by the MCTP, by
vendor trainers, or the company may use its own
employees.
Training can be
conducted in the work environment. Designed
primarily for newly created jobs, OJT helps make
the most of training new workers by reimbursing
companies up to 50% of a trainee's wages in
order to offset training costs and reduced
productivity.
Task-oriented profiling
can provide occupational profiles to eligible
companies at no charge to the employer.
Companies may use the profiles as a basis for
training plans, job descriptions, hiring tools,
and detailed "process documentation" which is
very helpful with training associated with ISO
9000.
Length of training is
tied to the skill level and experience of the
trainee, the skill level required for the job,
and the time needed for the trainee to become
productive. In addition, companies may request
training assistance as often as needed.
MCTP may provide ongoing
training programs. To ensure a steady supply of
trained labor, ongoing training required for new
products, processes or equipment may be
provided. Or, if needed, help is available to
retain and retrain a company's current workforce
with new upgraded skills.
Applications will be
reviewed and approved based on the number of new
jobs created in Missouri, job retention, cost
effectiveness, the level of wages an employee
will receive as a result of customized training,
and retraining needed as a result of substantial
capital investments.
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