Louisiana FastStart Program

• Is a single-source workforce solution that works with businesses to anticipate and address the company's workforce needs early in the startup or expansion process.
• Eligibility: any manufacturing, corporate headquarters, warehouse and distribution, research and development or other strategic facility that commits to creating at least 15 new jobs, or any service-related operation that commits to creating at least 50 new jobs.

On-the-Job Training Program

• The On The Job Training Program provides up to 50% reimbursement of wages to employers for either new hires or skills upgrades for existing employees. Wages of $10 or more per hour may be reimbursed for the time it takes to learn the necessary skills with a maximum of $2000 per participant

Incumbent Worker Training Program (IWTP)

• Designed to benefit Louisiana employers by assisting in the skill development of existing employees and providing funding for customized workforce training
• Funded by Unemployment Tax contributions at $35 million annually
• Eligibility: a business must have operated in Louisiana and contributed to the state's Unemployment Insurance System for a minimum of 3 years and an employer or a consortium of employers with similar needs must have at least 15 employers to be trained

Small Business Employee Training (SBET) Program

• Designed to benefit Louisiana employers by assisting in the skill development of existing employees and providing funding for training
• Provides $3000 per employee, per fiscal year for a wide range of standardized workforce training
• Funded by Unemployment Tax contributions at 2.3% of all IWTP funds available
• Eligibility: limited to businesses with 50 or fewer employees. A business must have operated in Louisiana and contributed to the state's Unemployment Insurance System for a minimum of 3 years

Small and Emerging Business Program

• Helps Louisiana's small businesses by funding up to 50% of the cost of entrepreneurial & computer training (as well as other technical assistance such as legal needs, marketing, and accounting). 
• Eligibility: 51% owned by one or more Small and Emerging Business Person (US citizen, 1-year+ LA resident, with a net worth under $400K). Primary business must take place in Louisiana and managed by full-time employees of applicant firm. Business' net worth many not exceed $1.5 million and they must be creating new full-time jobs.

Good News 

• Approximately $5.6 million was awarded in IWTP training funds to Acadiana Area businesses in the 2010/2011 fiscal year.
• For the fiscal year 2010/2011 fiscal year, the Small Business Employee Training (SBET) workforce program allocated  approximately $3.2 million statewide for workforce training for small businesses where companies in the Acadiana region were awarded just over $769K - second only to the Baton Rouge region which was awarded just over $1 million.

If you'd like more information about any of the training programs listed above, contact Workforce Director Ryan LaGrange at (337) 593-1405 or via email.