Section 1: Purpose
The Governor´s Strategic Training Fund was established within the Employer Workforce Training Fund (EWTF) to support the retention and growth of living wage jobs, a skilled workforce, and competitive businesses in Oregon.  The Governor´s Strategic Training Fund is a flexible, responsive, and time-sensitive resource for training Oregon's private sector workforce.  The emphasis is to upgrade skills of the workforce in order to increase productivity, keep Oregon businesses viable and competitive, and offer new skills and opportunities to Oregon's workers. 
The Employer Workforce Training Fund is for strategic company expansions that show the potential for long-term growth in Oregon.  Projects may range in size but must have a significant impact on the regional economy in which they are located.  The Governor's Strategic Training Fund will operate in cooperation with recognized Workforce Response Teams in each region in Oregon and will be used for multi-regional or statewide projects that are beyond the scope and/or resources of the regional funds.
 
Section 2: Funding Eligibility
The Governor´s Strategic Training Fund (Fund) may be used to finance economic and workforce development projects in existing Oregon businesses, industry or worker associations for incumbent workers that:
 

1. Are reasonably expected to result in new jobs, job retention, or higher incomes for Oregonians;
2. Provide assistance to businesses and worker associations that need resources to retain and expand jobs in Oregon;
3. Serve as a catalyst for additional economic and workforce development, and result in additional economic benefits to the region and the state.

Section 3: Funding Priorities

Funding priority will be given to businesses that:

1. Demonstrate a financial need for state assistance;
2. Plan to continue training existing workers after the life of the state grant;
3. Will retain jobs in the state for an extended period of time;
4. Have not had the benefit of state funding in the past;
5. Are willing to engage in workforce industry groups and utilize the WorkSourceOregon partners for recruitment and other services.
   
   Ineligible Expenditures:

The Governor´s Strategic Training Funds will not be used for:

1. Public sector employers;
2. Wages for trainees or purchase of equipment that are part of the training project;
3. Relocation of a business from one part of the state to another, or from another state to Oregon, unless the employees to be trained have been on the company's Oregon payroll for at least 120 days;
4. The retirement or service of debt for any public or private entity; or
5. Any state agency administrative expenses without legislative authorization.

Process:

1. A funding opportunity is identified by a member of the regional Workforce Response Teams (WRT) and/or referred to the WRT by the Governor´s Workforce Policy Advisor (Advisor).  The region will designate a contact to represent the WRT and coordinate between the WRT and the Advisor.
2. The WRT contact will bring the opportunity to the regional WRT to determine the amount of resources needed and the potential source of the funds.  If it is determined that the Governor´s Strategic Training Fund should be accessed, the WRT contact will notify the Advisor, determine if funding is available, fill out an application, and send it to the Advisor.
3. The Advisor analyzes the relative economic impact with the priorities and, if appropriate, seeks the Governor´s approval.
4. Upon the Governor's approval, an approved application will be sent to the WRT's contact.
5. If denied, a memo stating the reason for denial will be sent to the WRT's contact.
6. WRT notifies company.
7. WRT will contract with the company.

Advisor's  Review:
Projects shall not be funded by the Governor´s Strategic Training Fund unless the Advisor finds that:

1. The Project is or will be supported by the maximum feasible amount of local and private financial participation including non-governmental matching funds or in-kind contributions to the project that equal or exceed the amount of the grant;
2. The Project is likely to produce significant long-term, regional or statewide economic impacts;
3. The Project is not likely to require continuing state subsidies;
4. The Project does not supplant private investment or duplicate or undermine similar efforts.

Funding decision shall be made by the Governor.

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The Governor´s Strategic Training Fund may be accessed through the petition of a regional Workforce Response Team to the Workforce Policy Advisor and the Governor.