State offering grants for employee training

A new Business Employees’ Skills Training (BEST) Program is available through the state Department of Commerce to help small businesses meet their employee training needs.
The Department of Commerce can provide grants to businesses with fewer than 25 employees for up to 75% of eligible tuition costs, not to exceed $1,000 per employee. Training courses must be directly related to the employee’s work requirements. The Department of Commerce will make awards through a competitive application process. In making an award, the department will consider criteria such as the degree of labor shortage facing the business or industry; the viability of the business; the impact the training will have on the applicant’s business operations; and whether the business is located in a Community Development Zone. The department will seek to attain an equitable distribution of funds among the various industry sectors.
For further information about the program, visit the Commerce Web site at www.commerce.state.wi.us, contact the Bureau of Business Finance at 608-266-9467, or call the Business Development Assistance Center at 1-800 HELP-BUS (1-800-435-7287).