Frequently Asked Questions
What is the WIOA Grant?
It is called the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). it is a jobs program. It provides free training grants to assist workers get trained, certified and placed in high demand careers such as IT, cyber-security, business analysis, project management and more. The idea is that there are professions in which there are not enough certified workers and there are declining careers in which there are too many people. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) addresses this issue by providing free funding for job training in high demand fields to those who qualify for this grant. This training is intended to make your resume marketable so you can get hired and return to the workforce. This is a grant, not a loan. If you are eligible, everything is covered, even the exam. The amounts vary by county but can be as high as $10,000 in some areas.
Can I use this grant for any program I want?
This is a jobs program so you must select something where there is a high expectation of employment. Each county has a regionally targeted occupations list (RTOL) to choose from. They want to make sure you select an occupation that is in high demand. For each approved career, there will be approved training programs to choose from.
How Do I Qualify?
The 3 most common categories are: Dislocated Worker, Adult Low Income and Youth (18 -25). If you have been laid off (or your position was eliminated or you were let go because of a reduction in force) from your last job, terminated, received a notice of layoff or are a military spouse you might qualify as a Dislocated worker. If you are on Food Stamps or government assistance, or have low income based on last 6 month’s earnings and family size, then you could qualify under Adult Low Income. For youths age 18-24, you might qualify if you are not enrolled in school. You must also be found to be “suitable.” This is not an automatic approval. The process is arduous so it is best to speak with us beforehand to see if you are eligible.
What types of career choices are best under this program?
You need to select a program that can be finished in a short period of time that will increase your marketability enough to help get you hired. We look at the best ways to take advantage of your experience to add a certification that will make you attractive to recruiters and easier to get hired. Some occupations are perfect for this: cyber-security, information technology, project management, business analyst, human resources, executive secretaries and administrative assistants etc.
Is there a catch or any hidden costs? I always have a hard time believing anything is free.
There is no charge to you if you qualify. Nothing to pay or any personal expenses. This is a grant, not a loan. Even the exam(s) are paid for. So what is the catch? We will be working with an exceptionally bureacratic government agency. The process is confusing. A number of schools are hesitant to work with WIOA if they can avoid doing so. I strongly advise you consult with an expert.
Do you help with job placement?
Yes! The whole intent of this program is to help you get back in the workforce. We have a dedicated person to work exclusively with our clients. She helps with your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, interview techniques and most importantly, getting your information in front of hiring managers. We work with thousands of employers in Florida who use us for their training needs. A lot of them recruit from us so we get many job leads that are not accessible to the general public. Over half the jobs we have helped place people in are not even advertised.