Commerce Awards $580,000 in Workforce Training Grants
HELENA – The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that more than $580,000 of grant funding has been awarded to 22 Montana non-profit and for-profit businesses for skill-based training of new and existing employees. The funding is through Commerce’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Workforce Training Grant (WTG) Program.“Montana’s economy is thriving and has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation. To keep our economy vibrant and strong, we must ensure that we have a robust and skilled workforce,” said Commerce Director Scott Osterman. “These Workforce Training Grants will provide needed skill-based training for many local Montana businesses and their employees. In addition, the grants will help strengthen and grow our state’s economy through the creation and retention of good-paying jobs to keep our economy moving forward and to help our state live up to its full potential,” Osterman added.
The ARPA WTG Program reimburses businesses for costs associated with skill-based training for new and existing full-time workers.
ARPA Workforce Training Grant Program funding recipients:
- Missoula’s Aspen Grove Therapy and Wellness Center, LLC will receive $11,249.50 to train one new full-time and five existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- Chinook’s Bear Paw Meats, LLC will receive $23,200 to train five new full-time and three existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- The Billings Community Foundation will receive $5,825 to train two new full-time and two existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- Bonner’s Botanie Natural Soap, Inc. will receive $45,000 to train two new full-time and thirteen existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- Hamilton’s Bounti Bitterroot, LLC will receive $24,601 to train a minimum of nine existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- The Boys & Girls Club of Richland County will receive $9,100 to train one new full-time and five existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- Belgrade’s Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, LLC will receive $210,000 to train 15 new full-time and 55 existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- Bozeman’s Bridgercare will receive $48,000 to train 16 existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- Missoula’s Dodgeworks PT, Inc. dba Alpine Physical Therapy will receive $41,723 to train three new full-time and 18 existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- Missoula’s Endurance Physio, PLLC will receive $14,351 to train five existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- Bozeman’s Great Beginnings Montessori School, Inc. will receive $2,335 to train two existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- Missoula’s Great Burn Conservation Alliance will receive $5,352 to train two existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- Missoula’s Guided Healing Trails, LLC will receive $3,000 to train two new full-time and two existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- J & K Browning Investment, LLC, in Billings, will receive $15,000 to train one new full-time and seven existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- East Helena’s Montana Ironworkers JATC will receive $45,000 to increase each net-new capacity of apprentices' slots from 34 to 49 by offsetting the costs of training within one year.
- Helena’s Montana Nonprofit Association, Inc will receive $5,305 to train seven existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- Bozeman’s Montana Tactical Company will receive $18,000 to train six existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- Pasta Montana, LLC, in Great Falls, will receive $14,400 to train 45 existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- Plains Physical Therapy, PC in Plains will receive $18,000 to train one (1) new full-time and five existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- Bozeman’s Project WET Foundation will receive $12,000 to train six existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- Seeley Lake Community Foundation, Inc. will receive $3,000 to train one existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
- Bozeman’s Whole and Nourished, Inc. will receive $6,000 to train two existing full-time WTG-eligible jobs within one year.
Eligible businesses may apply directly to the program and can receive up to $3,000 per eligible employee, with a maximum allocation of $210,000. Each eligible employee must make a wage that meets or exceeds 170 percent of Montana’s current minimum wage.
At this time, the ARPA Workforce Training Grant program is currently revising its guidelines, but similar programs are offered under the Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) and Accelerate MT programs through the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.
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