Dear Priscilla,
Thanks to a 4-year grant from the Alfond Foundation, the Maine Community College System is helping employers connect with training opportunities for their employees. While the community colleges offer a host of accessible, customizable training programs and classes, this funding can also be used for training provided by other institutions and vendors.
Naturally, when I mentioned this opportunity to my clients and network - there were questions. For the past few weeks, I have taken your questions and gathered answers through sources such as the Southern Maine Community College, other employers who have taken advantage of the grant, as well as other vendors who have provided training through the grant program.
Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's):
I'll add more in future articles, so hit me with any questions you may have!
What does this grant mean for me as an employer? There is funding available for training your frontline employees ($1200 per employee in 2022, with an employer match up to $1200 in 2023, 2024, and 2025). This means you can provide quality skills training that will elevate, engage and retain your workforce without breaking a budget already being tested by competitive wages, benefits, fuel costs, and supplier issues. I have spoken with representatives from the Maine College System and they are here to help solve any training issues you may have.
How does providing training affect my business? Simply put, you increase your bottom line. According to a study conducted by the Association for Talent Development (ATD), organizations that invest in formalized training for their workforce experienced a 24% higher profit margin than those that did not. Training results improved productivity, employee engagement, and retention.
What does this mean for my employees? Your employees now have the opportunity to expand their skill sets through on-site training, in-class learning, and online courses. By increasing the availability of skills and safety training, you will have the opportunity to provide them with a safer, more inclusive, and more engaging work experience.
How long does it take to get the grant money? (How will this affect my cash flow?) They have made the process very simple and easy to navigate. Unlike other grant funding requests, the application is simple, and the turnaround for funding has been quick. I've had several clients apply and they have received approval for funding within a couple of weeks. Once your funding request is approved, you will receive 80% of your funding request upfront, with the other 20% paid when the training course is completed.
What training is covered? So far, I haven't found anything that isn't covered! The Maine Community College representative I spoke with said that any training that supports the employees' success will be considered. Job skills training, communication, leadership, safety, compliance, and situational training are all covered. If you have employees that need certifications in areas such as arborist licenses, pesticide licenses, journeyman licenses... it's all included under the umbrella of the grant. Compliance training such as sexual harassment, diversity-equality and inclusion courses, workplace violence, and drug awareness are also eligible.
Training for Compact Members can occur at one of Maine’s community colleges, by a third-party training vendor, or through your own company-based training. All Maine companies qualify and there are additional resources available to small- and mid-sized companies
What's the catch? There doesn't seem to be one ... other than to be eligible for training, frontline workers must be 18 or older, a Maine resident, and have a high school diploma or equivalent.
This sounds amazing! But I'm busy and overwhelmed ... How do I navigate this process? There are many people who are here to help you. Please don't let your hectic schedule cause you to miss this great opportunity! I am happy to sit with you and identify your organization's training needs - free of charge - no obligation. From there, you will want to sign up for the Maine Workforce Development Compact (super simple - only takes a minute!) and then request funding. It's that simple! And if you do run into questions, Maureen O'Brien at Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) is waiting to take your call. She has been super helpful to me and my clients who are navigating the process.
Wait - does this mean I can hire Blazing Trails Coaching to come train my team? Why yes, yes it does! I have 25 years of field experience, and I love training with crews! Here is a list of sample topics that can be offered on-site and off-site for your front-line employees:
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Giving and receiving feedback
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Giving instructions / Retaining/Following instructions
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Uncomfortable conversations
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Building confident leaders
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Establishing "best practices"
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Core Values
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Train the trainer
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Training different learning types
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Dependable and Prepared
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Risk Management
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Solution Focused problem solving
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Effective Communication
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Continuous Improvement
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Working under pressure
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Motivating others (championing)
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Building Trust
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Time Management, organization, and efficiency
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Building a Team (being a good team member)
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Brand awareness
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Making the right call - independent decision making
NEXT STEPS:
1) Sign up to be a compact member (it's free, and there is no obligation beyond joining the compact)
2) Schedule a free (no obligation) appointment with me to discuss your organization's training needs. I will walk you through the funding application, including the options for applying for college courses, safety training, and other offerings through the compact. SCHEDULE FREE TRAINING NEEDS ASSESSMENT
I will be in touch with you to confirm our meeting location (my office, your location, or zoom).
If you have any questions about the training grant, the compact, or the training that is being offered - please reach out. My most important priority is you are able to leverage this grant and get your employees the training they need to succeed!
Chat soon!
Priscilla
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