Frequently Asked Questions
Finger Lakes Wired Scholarships for Businesses
1. Q. If my industry does not fit into one of the sectors, or if I'm not sure whether it does fit into one of the sectors, are there other grants available?
]Depending on the type of training, there may be funding available through your local Workforce Investment Board. If you have questions on your industry, please contact a business services rep at your local WIB. To locate your local WIB , please click here: http://www.workforcenewyork.org/onestops.htm.
2. Q. How can I find a trainer and/or local training programs?
The New York State Department of Labor has a comprehensive listing of training providers and offerings. You can get the link at New York State Eligible Training Providers List (http://www.workforcenewyork.org/etp/)
3. Q. I'm a manager at a printing company. Does my industry fall into one of the five industry sectors?
]Yes, most printing companies could fall under either Advanced Manufacturing or Optics/Imaging. 4. Q. Can you further define “Advanced Manufacturing”?
]U.S. manufacturing sub-sector is considered advanced if it requires skilled managers and workers who are prepared to deal with new and evolving technology for the design, engineering, and production of goods
5. Q. Does the “Alternative Energy” industry only include Fuel Cells?
]No, while Alternative Energy encompasses Fuel Cell technology, companies that work with hydroelectric power, wind power, geothermal and solar energy are also included in this category and are encouraged to make an application for training.
6. Q. What would you consider to be a Bio/Life Sciences company?
]Biotechnology is hard to define because it is made up of several disciplines. Companies in pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing, Research and Development companies in Physical, Engineering and Life Sciences, Medical and Control Instruments, Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing and Medical Diagnostic Labs would all fall into the Bio/Life Sciences sector. Other related industries could be Science Technology, Mathematics, Engineering Related Technologies and Computer and Information Science depending on the end products.
7. Q. Please define the Food and Agricultural sector? Would a diner fall into that category?
]No. Companies that would fall into this category would manufacture, process, preserve distribute, and/or foster agriculture, food and bio-based technologies. Other grant opportunities may be available for you. Please contact a business services rep at your local WIB. To locate your local WIB , please click here: http://www.workforcenewyork.org/onestops.htm.
8. Q. I'm a manufacturing company located in Yates County . Can I apply for the Scholarship program?
Yes, companies that are located in the nine-county Finger Lakes Region (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, Wyoming, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Seneca and Yates counties) can apply for funding under the WIRED Scholarship.
9. Q. Can a business service organization apply for Sarbanes Oxley training, or is Lean the only type of Process Improvement initiative that is eligible for funding?
Business Services and Health Care industries are encouraged to apply for training that will lead to process improvement initiatives, which could include Sarbanes Oxley, ISO, Lean, Six Sigma, etc.
10. Q. I currently have a 37-L BUSINYS grant. Can my organization apply for a scholarship?
We will entertain an application if you have an executed contract with NYSDOL and have already started the training proposed under the 37-L. The training under the scholarship must be different from the training that you are undertaking with the 37-L grant.
11. Q. What is the average turn-around time for approval?
We require at least 30 business days before you begin your training for the approval process. Once we receive your application, you will receive a notification of receipt including a date to expect a response. You will be contacted by a staff member if there are any additional questions.
12. Q. Can you receive applications by email?
Yes, email is the preferred method for both the application and the budget form.
13. Q. Can costs associated with purchasing software or equipment necessary to conduct the training be used towards the 50% employer match?
Yes, although this will need to be documented on your budget sheet, and we will need proof of costs, proof of payment and an explanation of why the purchase is necessary to conduct the training.
14. Q. Can someone assist me in the grant writing process?
We have recognized that companies have better outcomes from their training when they assess their workforce for training needs and write their own applications. For this reason, a third party (grant writers, consultants or training provider) should not be utilized in this process. If you do have any questions while writing the application, please contact a business services representative at your local WIB. To locate your local WIB, please click here: http://www.workforcenewyork.org/onestops.htm.
15. Q. How long is the training period?
Training must start and end within a three-month period of time.
16. Q. Can I make multiple applications?
More then one application may be submitted per year (or twelve month period) but all initiatives funded in one application must be completed and the contract closed before a second application is submitted. Organizations with poor performance outcomes on previous training initiatives will not be awarded funds
17. Q. Who can be trained?
Employees identified for training should be permanent, full-time employees with year-round attachment to the employer. Part-time employees are eligible to be trained if they work more than (20) hours per week year-round.
18. Q. I sent my staff to computer training in April. Can I apply to be reimbursed for this training?
Applications will not be entertained for training that has already started or been completed. This includes tuition for courses taken towards a degree program that has started prior to the application.
19. Q. What types of training can I apply for?
Training that will lead to the acquisition of industry-recognized certifications/credentials, productivity and process improvement procedures, or in-demand skills is encouraged for this program. Training can be done in a classroom setting, with an on-site consultant or an in-house trainer. Training should be linked to your strategic plan and must assist workers in gaining skills and competencies needed to upgrade career ladder employment positions in the targeted sectors.
20. Q. What about a train-the-trainer? Our production supervisor is a great trainer and has recently finished an AutoCAD class. Could we be reimbursed if he delivered the training to our staff and used the manual from the class?
A. If the trainer is in-house – that is, an employee of the applicant business – the Scholarship program could pay for the instruction. The cost is defined as the normal hourly wage (minus benefits) of the trainer for the period during which he/she is delivering the instruction (the number of hours spent in “stand-up delivery time”). The cost of time to develop the curriculum is not allowable.
21. Q. I work for an accounting office and we know that we need to implement process improvement activities. Can you give an example of how that could work with the scholarship?
Let's say that you have 10 employees. The training consultant you have chosen based on reasonableness of cost and ability to best address your unique business needs has quoted an instructional cost of $5,000 for 30 hours of training. Therefore, total instructional cost to be considered for funding under the scholarship program would be $5,000. The wages of the ten individuals, at $10/hr while in training total $3,000 (hourly wage rate x number of trainees x total hours of training). Trainee wages plus the instructional costs total $8,000. Fifty percent of these costs are fundable. We would fund $4000 for part of the instructional costs, and you would pay all wages ($3,000) and $1000 of instructional costs.
22. Q. Health Care organizations, such as hospitals, are non-for-profit organizations. Can they still apply for the scholarship even though they are not a “for-profit” organization?
Yes, all hospitals are not-for-profit organizations, but are able to apply for funding under the scholarship program.
23. Q. The total costs for training, wages, supplies and equipment are $37,400. Why did you decrease my award amount from $18,700 to $10,000?
You have proposed to train 10 employees in AutoCAD. The course cost per person is $900. Therefore the instructional cost is $9,000. The total combined wages of the 10 employees for their time spent in training equals $8,400. The total cost of supplies, materials, and allowable equipment equals $20,000. Included in this $20,000 is $1,000 of training manuals. Total instructional cost again is $37,400.
The maximum amount of funding that would be considered in this case would be equal to the costs of instruction ($9,000 ) plus the $1,000 of training manuals that are considered cost of instruction for a total of $10,000. The amount of the grant cannot exceed the total instructional cost. The required "matching funds" equals $27,400 (wages, supplies, materials and equipment). $10,000 is the cost of instruction. That is the fundable amount. (If your match was less than the training cost, the 50% formula used in Question 21 would apply, typically resulting in an amount less than the cost of instruction.)
24. Q . I work for an IT firm and want to send my employees for additional Cisco certifications. We support a lot of firms in the “targeted industries” Can I apply for a scholarship?
YES. The scholarship program has recently expanded to include skills training for Business Services, Engineering Firms, Information Technology companies and Health Care organizations (including non-profit Health Care organizations). These industries can apply for training that will lead to transferable skills, recognized certifications/credentials and process improvement initiatives.
25 Q. Are Human Service agencies eligible to apply for funding under the “Health Care” industry?
Possibly. Depending on the training, the trainees and the group that represent, a Human Service agency may qualify under the scholarship guidelines. Please contact us to discuss your unique situation. Other grant opportunities may also be available for you. Please contact a business services rep at your local WIB. To locate your local WIB, please click here: http://www.workforcenewyork.org/onestops.htm.
26 Q. HELP!!! I am very confused as to how to figure out how much the scholarship will cover. Can you please provide another example?
Say that you want to train 10 employees in AutoCad. Drawing from the example in #23, course cost per person is $900 and allowable training manual costs are $1000 for a total instructional cost of $10,000.
In this example, “match” dollars equal or exceed the total instructional cost so the $10,000 amount would be fundable. And, since 10 employees are to be trained, the $10,000 is divided by 10, which equals $1,000 per employee.
27. Q. What is the training period?
Training can begin once you have received notification from RochesterWorks that your training project will be funded through the Wired Scholarship. All training activities should be completed within 6 (six) calendar months. We understand that unforeseen circumstances can present themselves in the normal course of business. If you require an extension in order to complete the training, an amendment from RochesterWorks must be granted and issued. Please contact RochesterWorks immediately to discuss the circumstances. Please note that prior training initiatives can not be supported through the Wired Scholarship
28. Q. We currently have a Wired Scholarship. When can we reapply for another?
We can accept new applications beginning on January 1, 2008 for the 2008 Program Year, even if you have had a Scholarship in a previous program year. Organizations with poor performance outcomes on previous training initiatives will not be awarded funds. If in doubt, please call us.
29. Q. Unfortunately some of the classes that our employees were supposed to attend were cancelled and we were not able make use of most of the scholarship funds allocated to our Company. Can our employees attend those classes if they are offered again in 2008?
We understand that unforeseen circumstances can present themselves in the normal course of business, for both the applicant company and the training provider. If you require an extension in order to complete the training, a formal request to RochesterWorks detailing the situation must be made, and a contract amendment must be granted and issued. Please contact RochesterWorks immediately to discuss the circumstances. Organizations with poor performance outcomes, or who haven’t completed approved training on previous training initiatives will not be awarded additional funding.
30. Q. Can training manuals and books be used as cost of instruction? Will you reimburse for exams?
Yes, training manuals and books can be used as a cost of instruction. Wired scholarships can reimburse for exams that were completed successfully and resulted in a certificate and/or credential.
31. Q. Are there any other “end of training” requirements to comply with?
Yes, all employees participating in a training activity must receive/be presented with evidence of course completion. This could be in the form of a course grade from an educational institution, certification document associated with a skill level attainment recognized by an industry or a certificate of course completion presented by the training provider that can be evidence of transferable skills development/on going learning on the part of the employee.
For assistance or more information please contact:
Kristina Ioele, Finger Lakes Wired
255 North Goodman St., Rochester, NY 14607
Telephone: (585) 258-3548
Fax: (585) 232-6033
Updated: 8/26/08 |
