Workforce Training

Workforce Enhancement Training Fund

The Workforce Enhancement Training Fund (MS Code §71-5-353) is administered by the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges and the state’s 15 community and junior colleges. The state fund is designed to provide a participating company with a loyal and productive workforce. The strategy for accomplishing this goal includes a custom job training program designed and carried out in partnership with the company through the local community/junior colleges.

Workforce Investment Network (WIN) in Mississippi

The Workforce Investment Network (WIN) in Mississippi operates a system of over 60 WIN Job Centers throughout the state. Each center is a one-stop resource for employment and training services for businesses and job seekers. The WIN Job Centers are funded through federal Workforce Investment Act (PL 105-220) funds and funds from other federal, state and local partners.

Workforce Enhancement Training Fund

Working together, state and company officials plan and negotiate a tentative training plan to meet the company's specific personnel needs. Planning is critical. Therefore, both company and state officials empowered to make commitments must participant in the process. The plan, which is tentative and may be adjusted as needed, typically:

• Identifies time frames for hiring and start-up schedules;
• Identifies basic skills and job specific skill necessary for the planned workforce;
• Completes job analysis and identifies assessment criteria;
• Identifies worker characteristics, attitudes, work ethic and physical requirements and desires;
• Specifies training site requirements. Training may be conducted on-site, at the community college or at an alternate site;
• Identifies training equipment needs and development of a fulfillment or procurement plan;
• Develops instruction strategy:
  
  1. Pre-employment Training: During the employee hiring process, the local community/junior college may provide a period of pre-employment training consisting of mutually agreed upon related instruction and as much actual skill training as practical. This training takes from one to four weeks with people attending on their own time. Pre-employment training is extremely beneficial for identifying productive workers. It allows people to demonstrate initiative in attendance, work ethics, inter-personal skills, team building, diversity training, and some specific job skills before any commitment is made by the company to employ an individual. During pre-employment training, the company participates in an advisory capacity. The company hires only those individuals it feels will meet its needs.
  2. Train-the-Trainer Training: A company may be reimbursed for limited travel costs associated with training employees in a discipline not currently available through the local community college. All such travel charges must be pre-approved by the college and be in compliance with project guidelines.
  3. Applicant assessment: The community colleges may provide assessment services for applicants to determine basic or occupational skill levels.
  4. Customized Training: Customized training is designed to meet a specific business need. It includes curriculum and material development as well as instruction by community college trainers.
  5. Customized Industry-Based Training: A company may be reimbursed for up to $35 per hour of training conducted by the company when the college does not provide the training.
• Develops needed curriculum. The state has a curriculum team and a multi-media team to develop and produce (with company assistance) specific training manuals, training tapes, and laser discs to use for training purposes at no cost to the company;
• Provides supervision and management courses for first-time supervisors that may be arranged for specific company needs; and
• Provides follow-up and support to company. Staff from the local community/junior college and the WIN Job Center will stay in close personal contact with local industry officials and arrange for future training and services as needed. Commitments shall be made and based only upon training services provided and not for a specific funding amount. No specific trainee eligibility requirements apply. However, priority will be give to permanent full-time employees.

Workforce Investment Network in Mississippi
Services at the WIN Job Centers include but are not limited to the following:

• Recruiting, screening and referring applicants based of skills defined by the company;
• Hosting job fairs;
• Developing or refining job descriptions and eligibility requirements;
• Screening and certifying for federal Work Opportunity Tax Credits; and
• Provide reimbursement for training done on-the-job for new hires based on a negotiated agreement between the company and the WIN Job Center.

(Note: A company cannot receive reimbursement for jobs that are the result of a business relocation from another state for 120 days from the date the company commences operation in the new location.) Eligibility requirements apply to the on-the-job training activity only. To be eligible an applicant must be unemployed, underemployed or meet the program definition of a dislocated worker. Jobs must be for permanent, full-time positions that pay competitive wages.

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