Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Funding Opportunity
When your employees grow their skills, your business gets stronger. Upskilling your current workforce can help improve productivity and quality, build stronger supervisors and leaders, prepare your team for new equipment, technology, or processes, and reduce turnover by creating clear pathways for advancement. It also helps you stay competitive with a more adaptable, capable team.
IWT supports training that strengthens business operations and helps employees gain industry-recognized skills—and, when applicable, supports credentials, wage increases, and promotions.
How to apply
The February 2026 application submission period has closed. Future applications will be accepted as funding allows. If you have would like to learn more about work-based learning opportunities or be notified when a new round opens, please fill out our online interest form.
What the grant can support
IWT funding supports training that helps your business run stronger and helps employees advance. Proposed training should lead to industry-recognized skill-building and may also support outcomes such as a credential, a wage increase, or a promotion.
Employer cost share (your investment)
IWT is a cost-sharing partnership, meaning employers contribute a portion of the training cost. Your required cost share depends on the size of your workforce:
- Employers with 50 or fewer employees must pay at least 10% of the training costs
- Employers with 51–100 employees must pay at least 25% of the training costs
- Employers with more than 100 employees must pay at least 50% of the training costs
In many cases, wages paid during training hours may count toward your cost share (as allowed and properly documented).
Who can apply
To be eligible, businesses must meet all criteria below:
- Located in the PacMtn region: Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Grays Harbor, or Pacific County
- Licensed to do business in Washington State
- Proposed training must support employee skill gains that lead to industry-recognized training and/or a credential, a wage increase, or a promotion
- Employer must meet Fair Labor Standards Act requirements for an employer–employee relationship
- Employees supported by this grant must be currently employed with the business and have an established employment history of at least six months
Priority consideration
While all eligible businesses are encouraged to apply, priority will be given to employers operating within one of PacMtn’s six key industry sectors:
- Healthcare
- Information technology and telecommunications
- Specialty manufacturing and logistics
- Forest and wood products
- Hospitality and tourism
- Food production
These sectors reflect regional workforce priorities and represent high-demand industries with strong potential for long-term growth and advancement opportunities.
Contact Us
If you still have questions or need more information, contact us at upskill@pacmtn.org