Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips have awarded $23,850 to Gold Bond Inc. in Hixson. The grant will provide 16 Gold Bond employees with Lean Training and Spin 2.0.
“Incumbent worker grants provide critical training and education to employees across the state in the continued effort to have a workforce that meets current marketplace demands,” said Governor Haslam.
“In 2014, we will give $750,000 to 37 companies throughout the state,” said Commissioner Phillips. “As a result 1,316 workers will benefit from the training these grants are providing.” Since the program’s inception, Incumbent Worker Training grants have assisted more than 650 businesses by providing $15 million to train approximately 52,000 employees.
The following criteriamust be met to qualify for the Incumbent Worker Training Program. Employersmust be in operation in Tennessee for at least one year prior to application date. Employers must have at least five full-time employees, demonstrate financial viability, and be current on all state tax obligations. Funding priority isgiven to businesses whose grant proposals represent a significant layoff-avoidance strategy and represent a significant upgrade of skills.
In their application for the grant, Gold Bond Inc. stated this grant would provide needed skills to improve the sales force and internal processes to more effectively align the company with customer’s needs and build strong relationships that will survive economic downturns.
“I would like to thank Governor Haslam and the Tennessee Department of Labor for offering this training grant to the workers of Hamilton County,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Bo Watson.
The Southeast Tennessee Development District played a key role in awarding the grant to Gold Bond Inc.
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development administers the Incumbent Worker Training program. The program has been structured to be flexible to meet the business's training objectives. The business may use public, private, or its own in-house training provider based on the nature of the training.