Customized Training
The Customized Training Program provides assistance to eligible Missouri businesses to reduce training costs and improve productivity. The company must be creating new jobs in the state above their peak employment level in the past year; or be retraining existing employees as a result of a substantial new capital investment. Other eligibility criteria may apply, such as types of jobs, type of industry and wage rates. 

Customized training is available for businesses to help train their workers through skill training.
Training may include technical or soft skills. Instruction may be provided by local educational agencies, vendor trainers or employees of the business involved. Training assistance may be available for training costs such as curriculum development, instructional salaries, and training materials. The company should consult with the customized training staff or the local educational agency to determine appropriate eligible training costs.

Funding for this program is contingent on the availability of funds. To be determined eligible for training assistance, the business must submit an “Employer Request for Training” application 30 days prior to hiring or incurring training costs. The appropriate local educational agency will assist with preparing and submitting the “Employer Request for Training” application on behalf of the business.

Only Missouri residents who are full-time, permanent employees are eligible for this program. Full-time jobs are defined as those jobs averaging 35 hours per week or more. Funding is not available for contract or temporary employees. In addition, certain industries and occupations are not eligible for training assistance. Wage requirements must also be met to qualify for assistance. If the company or its other Missouri sites have workers on active layoff, eligibility may be affected.

Local educational agency contacts may be obtained through the Division of Workforce Development’s Customized Training Unit at (800) 877-8698 or e-mail at: wfdcusto@ded.mo.gov.

Missouri Rapid Response Program
The Rapid Response Program is designed to take pre-emptive action to manage layoffs more effectively by quickly providing information to companies and workers about comprehensive outplacement services and unemployment insurance. Rapid Response teams work with businesses to swiftly maximize public and private resources and minimize the disruptions on companies, affected workers, as well as communities affected with job loss. These services are available without any additional costs to your business or workers.

If your business is expecting or undergoing a layoff, or want to learn more about the services Rapid Response can provide to your business, please contact the SCWIB Rapid Response Coordinator.

National Career Readiness Certificate
The National Career Readiness Certificate provides job skills assessments, based on WorkKeys, in three areas most important to businesses – Reading for Information, Locating Information, and Applied Mathematics. The Missouri Career Center can assist your business with finding job seekers with National Career Readiness Certificates.

On-the-Job Training
The On-the-Job Training (OJT) program provides referral and placement of eligible job seekers with hiring employers. OJT provides the hiring business with a wage reimbursement for a specific number of weeks intended to off-set the extraordinary costs incurred when training new employees.

Interested employers must be established businesses with workers compensation insurance and pay no less than the State minimum wage. For more information, contact your local Missouri Career Center.

Show-Me Heroes
Show-Me Heroes showcases Missouri businesses that pledge to consider hiring Missouri Veterans when they have job openings. For more information go to http://www.showmeheroes.mo.gov.

Work Ready Missouri Program
The Work Ready Missouri provides an opportunity for businesses to train potential employees without obligation. Eligible job seekers in need of occupational training can be matched with businesses to receive occupational worksite training on a part-time basis for up to six weeks. If you choose to hire a trainee upon completion of training, you have an employee that can be productive immediately. For more information call 1-800-592-6020 or e-mail workreadymo@ded.mo.gov.

Federal Bonding Program
The Missouri Federal Bonding Program is a no-cost, job-incentive program to increase the hiring of job seekers and to promote the retention of employees considered to be “at risk.”This no-cost, no-deductible insurance coverage begins the day the bonded person starts work and ends six months later. Fidelity Insurance provides an easy method for an employer to recoup losses incurred due to the illegal acts of fraud, embezzlement, larceny and theft committed against the employer by an “at risk” person who is bonded.

To receive fidelity bonding assistance the employer must verify: that a job or promotion offer has been made by the employer; that the “at risk” person is of legal working age; that the job is legitimate; and that the federal taxes of the “at risk” person will be automatically deducted from his/her pay.

Contact your local Missouri Career Center for information on the Federal Bonding Program or call 1-800-877-8698.