Building Skills in New York State Grant Program

Businesses throughout New York State need to ensure that the skills of their workers do not deteriorate or become “stale” in an ever more competitive and technologically complex global economy. Workforce development has become a critical component of every business plan.

BUSINYS uses Workforce Investment Act (WIA) monies to address employer demands for skilled workers. The program will fund projects that solve workforce problems by addressing identified skilled worker shortages within an industry or within a single employer's establishment, and promoting skills upgrading for incumbent workers.

BUSINYS will provide funds to businesses to train incumbent workers in specific skills needed by that business or industry and that lead to potential career growth and increased wages. The position targeted for training must exist and be filled at the time the application is submitted. The applicant must demonstrate that the training will result in the workers' acquisition of transferable skills. Public – that is federal, state, county and municipal - employees are not eligible to be trained under this initiative. Please note: BUSINYS grants are intended to fund training for the applicant’s employees. If the applicant business has no employees or if the workers are independent contractors or contract employees they are not eligible.

Applications will be rated on criteria relevant to that particular labor market region (i.e. importance of the acquired skills to the local board’s priorities for the area and relevance of the proposed training program to the local economy). Applications will be scored on their individual merits and will not be compared to other applications. Awards may not exceed $50,000.00 per company per federal program year (July 1st – June 30th), subject to funding availability. There is no minimum award amount.

Contracts will be awarded for a period of up to one year. Under certain circumstances, limited no-cost contract extensions may be approved at the discretion of the Department. Awardees will be required to provide reports documenting the outcomes of the project. Contract payment will be on a reimbursable basis. Contractors must promptly submit vouchers for reimbursement of costs that have been incurred and paid in accordance with the approved budget.

View more information and electronic application.