Small business owners looking to hire new trainees can receive up to 90% reimbursement of wages for up to six months with a program being offered by the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development’s Office of Workforce Opportunity.
The special program has been well-received by employers since it was introduced last fall and some funds remain for businesses getting ready to hire new workers, according to George Bald, Commissioner of the Department of Resources and Economic Development.
“We’re seeing an increased hiring by employers as New Hampshire recovers from the recent economic downturn, so this special On-the-Job (OJT) training program is timely and provides real financial incentives to hire people who are looking to rejoin the workforce,” said Bald.
The OJT program offers up to 90% wage reimbursement for businesses with up to 50 employees, and companies with up to 250 workers can receive 75% wage reimbursement when they hire a dislocated worker who has been unemployed for 18 weeks or longer, and who undergo a company-designed training program.
Southern New Hampshire Services (SNHS) administers the U.S. Dept. of Labor-funded program for the state and has job placement specialists who will work with the employer in the design of the training program. There is even one-time support payment for tools and other work-related necessities not generally provided by the employer, said Bald.
Maggie Hinkle, the OJT Job Placement Coordinator at SNHS, said 34 employers throughout the state have utilized the program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). “The companies represent a cross-section of our diverse economic base, from manufacturing to information technology, construction and service companies,” said Hinkle.
The average age of trainees in the program is 46, and many of them started with the participating companies under the state’s Return to Work program, which also helps employers with trainee wages.
“There are many out-of-work people who can become great employees, and the OJT program will match employers with those prospective employees, with minimal paperwork and a maximum return for the participating company.”
For information on the program, contact Maggie Hinkle, Job Placement Coordinator at mhinkle@snhs.org or 603-477-4913.
“Our goal is to provide opportunities for employers to use capital to strengthen their organizations, the communities in which they operate, and the families they serve,” said Community Loan Fund President Juliana Eades. “These funds will allow even small businesses and nonprofits to explore energy improvements that will reduce their operating expenses for many years to come.”