The Workforce and Economic Development Network of Pennsylvania (WEDnetPA) administers the Guaranteed Free Training (GFT) program to support workforce training for businesses in Pennsylvania. This initiative is funded through a state appropriation via the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED). The program operates through a network of community colleges, state universities, and economic development partners across the state. Its primary objective is to enhance workforce skills and improve the overall productivity and competitiveness of Pennsylvania businesses.

The WEDnetPA GFT program offers funding to Pennsylvania-based companies for employee training. Eligible companies can receive up to $2,000 per employee, with a company cap of $100,000 per fiscal year. Funding is available for skill-building training that directly benefits employees in their current job roles, promotions, or career advancement. Training must occur between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, and must be a minimum of 30 minutes per session. Partial training cannot be reimbursed. Training costs must be reasonable and align with market rates. Certain types of training, including company orientation, on-the-job training, and training related to marijuana industries, are explicitly ineligible.

Eligibility criteria for companies include being located in Pennsylvania, operating in an industrial or business-to-business sector, and not exceeding funding limitations of two consecutive years or three out of five years. Certain industries, such as education, hospitality, government, and brick-and-mortar retail, are ineligible. Eligible employees must be full-time, earning at least $16.74 per hour, legally eligible to work in the U.S., and employed at the specific company location receiving the funding.

Applications open on August 15, 2024, and are reviewed competitively based on job quality, training quality, geographic impact, and company size. Companies must apply online through WEDnetPA’s ISAAC system, providing a company description, industry classification (NAICS code), a detailed training plan, and signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). Companies must also submit invoices within 45 days of training completion or by the designated year-end deadline.

The program requires strict adherence to reporting and verification policies, including submission of employee names, birth month and day, and the last four digits of their Social Security numbers for tracking training caps. Multifactor authentication is required to access the online application system, and only company employees are permitted to handle the application process. Data privacy is maintained, and information is shared only as required by law.

For additional information and to apply, companies should visit www.wednetpa.com and select a WEDnetPA partner as a point of contact. Grant awards are subject to funding availability, and participating companies are encouraged to share their experiences with state legislators to support continued program funding.