RALEIGH – More than 30 North Carolina businesses and 700 employees are benefitting from grants from the NC Incumbent Worker Development Program (IWDP) that were awarded in December 2013.  The program provides funding for employers to train their existing workforce. 

The NC IWDP is a competitive, retention solutions grant that is administered through the NC Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions (DWS) and local Workforce Development Boards (WDB).  Qualifying businesses can use the grant to address employees’ skills gaps, resulting in increased knowledge, professional and technical skills, certifications, and value to the company. 

“This program provides several economic advantages to our state,” said NC Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker said in a press release. “It helps businesses thrive by improving the skills of their workers, helping to both prevent layoffs and strengthen North Carolina’s economy. Addressing employees’ skills gaps also contributes to a company’s competitiveness regionally and globally.”

The maximum amount of an IWDP grant is $25,000, with a lifetime funding limit to a company of $40,000. Applications are submitted directly to the local WDB for consideration.  Twelve local WDBs approved more than $440,000 in grants in December 2013 to help 32 North Carolina employers train their workers.

Since 2002, more than 1,000 IWDP grants, totaling more than $25 million, have been awarded to North Carolina businesses, resulting in benefits to more than 30,000 employees.