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Incumbent Worker Training Grants

About this program

The Incumbent Worker Training Grant Program helps Rhode Island employers remain competitive by providing 50% to 100% reimbursement for eligible training costs that help workers maintain and advance in their careers. All eligible RI employers may apply with a maximum annual award of $25,000.

REIMBURSEMENT RATES & PROGRAM CAPS Employers who meet the eligibility criteria outlined above and have 25 or more employees may be reimbursed at a rate of 50% for eligible costs on eligible training activities. Eligible employers with fewer than 25 employees may be reimbursed at a higher rate of 75%. 4  NEW: Employers of any size may be reimbursed at a rate of 100% for English as a Second Language Training (otherwise known as ‘ESL On-The-Job’). The annual award cap for all eligible employers is $25,000 per calendar year. Multiple training grants may be awarded to an employer until the $25,000 program cap is reached. Employers with more than one location in Rhode Island may be treated as either one employer or separate employers depending on the Federal Employer Identification Number(s) (FEINs). Employers with locations operating under different FEINs will be considered separate entities and each location may submit its own application(s). Employers with more than one location operating under a single FEIN are considered one entity. Reimbursable training dollars are capped at a per-trainee, per year amount of $5,000. ELIGIBLE TRAINING Employers may utilize this program to provide training that demonstrates a clear benefit to the organization and its employee(s). To be approved, an Incumbent Worker Training Grant Application must demonstrate at least one (1) of the following: • Training responds to a new or modified local, state, federal, or international regulation or standard that requires a change in technology, process, etc. • Training responds to rapidly changing industry practices or skill requirements, new technologies, or the emergence of new products or competitors. • New market opportunities may become available because of the skills acquired through the training. • The employee(s) will be positioned to advance into higher paying roles because of the training. • The employee(s) will receive an industry recognized credential/certification that is transferable should they separate from the employer.  NOTE: Provider‑led English as a Second Language (ESL) training that supports workplace communication and job‑related language skills is also eligible. Employers may NOT utilize this program to provide training to the following types of personnel: • Personnel who are not authorized to work in the United States • Personnel hired as independent contractors under a 1099 • Personnel who are immediate relatives1 of the employer if the immediate relatives are the only personnel to receive training. ELIGIBLE COSTS Costs eligible for reimbursement include: • Tuition and fees for college courses • Trainers/Instructors (or training provider fees) • Training materials and supplies • Software or subscriptions (if directly related to training and used exclusively for training) 1 An immediate relative is defined as an individual in a person’s family such as a spouse, parent, grandparent, child, stepchild, sibling, in-law, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, cousin, or domestic partner. 5 • Curriculum development (if necessary) • Conference registration fees (see below)  NOTE: Effective 3/1/2026, conference registration fees are reimbursable only when the training provided results in a verifiable learning outcome (such as a certificate, credential, or documented competency-based result). Conferences focused primarily on networking, or those offering professional development without verifiable learning outcomes, are not eligible. Training should be delivered in a cost-effective manner using local institutions and training providers whenever possible. The following costs are NOT reimbursable: • Employee wages • Employee mileage (or other travel costs) • Hotel/accommodation costs • Grant preparation or administration costs • Food and beverage • Equipment (including hardware and software) that is not exclusively for training • Trainings/conferences outside of the U.S. or with non-U.S. based providers  NOTE: Reimbursable training dollars are capped at a per-trainee, per year amount of $5,000.  NOTE: Reimbursable training dollars are capped at a per-trainee, per year amount of $5,000. This cap is applied to the matching grant funds (e.g., an employer may conduct training that costs $10,000 per trainee; however, the maximum grant contribution toward that training will be $5,000 per trainee).

Who is eligible?