Question 1

What is WIOA?

Accepted Answer

It is called the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). it is a jobs program. It provides free training grants to assist workers get trained, certified and placed in high demand fields such as IT, cyber-security, business analysis, project management and more. The idea is that there are fields in which there are not enough certified workers and there are declining fields in which there are too many people. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) tries to fix this problem by providing free funding for job training in high demand fields to those who qualify for this grant. This training is intended to make your skills marketable so you can get a job and return to the workforce. This is a grant, not a loan. If you are eligible, everything is paid for, even the exam. The amounts vary by county but can be as high as $10,000 depending where you live.

Question 2

How do I qualify?

Accepted Answer

The 3 most typical classes are: Dislocated Worker, Adult Low Income and Youth (18 -25). If you were laid off (or your position was eliminated or you were let go because of a reduction in force) from your last job, terminated, received a notice of layoff or are a military spouse you could get approved as a Dislocated worker. If you are on Food Stamps or government assistance, or have low income based on what you have earned the last six months and  number of people in your family, then you could get approved under Adult Low Income. For youths age 18-24, you might get approved if you are not going to school. You must also be determined to be "suitable." This is not an automatic approval. The process is convoluted so it is best to consult with us first to see if you are eligible.

Question 3

Is there a catch or any hidden costs? I always have a hard time believing anything is free.

Accepted Answer

There is no cost to you if you qualify. No reimbursement or any out of pocket expenses. This is a grant, not a loan. Even the exam(s) are paid for. So what is the catch? We will be working with a very bureaucratic government agency. The process is as clear as mud. A lot of schools are hesitant to work with WIOA if they can avoid it. I strongly advise you work with an expert.

Question 4

Can I use this grant for any program I want?

Accepted Answer

This is a jobs program so you must choose something where there is a high expectation of  employment. Each county has a regionally targeted occupations list (RTOL) to choose from. They want to make sure you select an occupation that is in high demand. For each approved career, there will be approved  training programs to choose from.

Question 5

What types of career choices are best under this program?

Accepted Answer

You want a program that can be finished in a short period of time that will raise your marketability enough to help get you a job. We look at the best ways to leverage your work history to add a certification that will make you attractive to recruiters and easier to get hired. Some career choices are ideal for this: cyber-security, information technology, project management, business analyst, human resources, executive secretaries and administrative assistants etc.

Question 6

Do you help with job placement?

Accepted Answer

Yes! The whole intent of this grant is to help you get back in the workforce. We have partnered with a staffing firm that has devoted a person to work at our location exclusively with our clients. She assists with your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, interview skills and most importantly, getting your information in front of hiring managers. We work with over 3,000 employers in Central Florida who use us for their training requirements. Many of them recruit from us so we get many job leads that are not accessible to the general public. Over half the jobs we have helped place people in are not even advertised.

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