Skills Training and Education Program (STEP)

STEP will provide funds to businesses to train incumbent workers in specific occupational skills needed by that business or industry that lead to career growth up a defined career ladder and to increased wages. 

In order to be considered for an award, an applicant must:

• Be a private sector, for-profit or not-for-profit business that has four or more employees,
• Be from an industry sector targeted as a priority by the local workforce investment area which are:
  Life Sciences
  Advanced Manufacturing
  Healthcare
  Green/Renewable Energy
• Be headquartered or have at least one physical location in New York State at the time of application.

Other requirements include:

• There is no minimum award amount but a STEP award may not exceed $50,000/company (with a lifetime maximum of $100,000/company)
• Large business with 100+ employees must pay a cash match of 25% of the project amount. 
• Applications must focus on short-term occupational skill acquisition.
  • Occupational skills training is defined as instruction conducted in an institutional or worksite setting designed to provide individuals with, or upgrade them in, the technical skills and information required to perform a specific job or group of jobs.
• The workers targeted for training must receive a permanent wage increase of at least 3% for participation in the training. 

Please Note: This wage increase must be related solely to the training, not to any annual raise, annual review, or annual performance evaluation.

To review the full RFP please visit:  http://www.labor.state.ny.us/workforcenypartners/PDFs/STEP%20RFP.pdf

Or contact The BEST Center at 585-345-6868