The funding process entails three steps: convening and Industry Forum and Skill Panels, development of the Mutual Training Agreement (MIA) and holding the classes for qualifying companies.

• Convened by Industry Associations or Consortia
• Identify & Prioritize Demand Occupations
• Identify Training Needs & Gaps
• Discuss Regional Training Experiences
• Identify Volunteers to Participate in Skill Panel

• Composed of & Chaired by Industry Volunteers
• Prioritize training needs & target investments
• Select training provider(s)
• Direct design, development and refinement of curriculum content and delivery for priority occupations
• Leverage additional funding for workforce training
• Integrate industry input into system-wide decisions about workforce activities and investments
• Lead development of Mutual Investment Agreement [MIA] to guide WSI Training Fund investments

• Who & how many will be trained [incumbent/new]
• Openings/timing/location
• Training content/kind of training
• Criteria for hire/training
• Training provider(s)
• Investment required
  • WSI Training Fund Investment
  • Industry/Companies Investment
• Training Outcomes/Deliverables

The Skill Panel (or a sub-committee thereof) will review training vendor proposals and choose the provider. Classes will be developed and scheduled and notice will be sent to companies throughout Region 2. Any company within the industry can send employees to incumbent worker classes or use the new hire classes as a talent pipeline as long as they meet the following criteria:

• Training for jobs open now or near future, OR
• Training/education for skill upgrades of incumbent workers that contributes to worker & company competitiveness
• Industry endorsed certificate/degree
• More than one company benefits from training
• Industry/companies will invest
• Job is on pathway for advancement or companies will work with us to develop pathway
• Occupations targeted for investment must pay entry level wage that meets or exceeds average for that occupation, in that industry, in the region
• Company in operation at current location 120 days