Job Skills Program (JSP) Grant

Update

Note: The FY25 round 2 grant applications are now closed, and funding has been awarded. We will conduct a funding survey in October to assess the possibility of allocating additional funds to projects.

40 Years of Impact

The Job Skills Program (JSP) – started in 1983 to enhance economic development through short-term customized training – is now 40 years old. From 2,256 employees trained in the biennium 1983-1985, the program has grown and trained more than 75,000 employees in Washington State.

For the biennium 2021-2023, JSP awarded grants to 126 projects and, in partnership with community colleges, completed training for 8,163 employees. The graphs below describe the businesses that benefited from JSP funding.

JSP Grant Distribution across Washington State

Size of Businesses Served by JSP Grants for FY 21-23

Grants by Industry for FY 21-23

The industry count is based on the best match for businesses participating in each project. For consortia projects, the industry count is based on the business partner with the biggest number of employees.

The manufacturing sector is composed of businesses engaged in aerospace, food production and processing, wood/paper products production, naval, high tech, auto, composites, marine, transportation, medical devices, chemicals, electronics, pharmaceutical, and handbags production.

Non-manufacturing related include businesses in agriculture, construction, retail/wholesale, hospitals and medical services, environmental services, gaming and hospitality, and non-profit. 

The program awards grants to licensed educational institutions in Washington. JSP funds half of the training cost. Partner employers provide cash or in-kind match to fund the other half.

Funds are awarded on a first-approved, rolling basis throughout the fiscal year. Applications are reviewed by a standing sub-committee of the Workforce Training Customer Advisory Committee.

Impacts

Ballard Machine Works

“We are adding transparency and accountability to our business by fully integrating ProShop ERP training. As a result of this training, the company received certification for AS9100D and ISO900, employees gained skills and confidence, and customers gained a more competent supplier. While our matching labor for this effort was significant, I expect the benefits to be considerable, and therefore worth it.” - Grant MacDonald, Owner

This project was designed to help Ballard Machine Works, a small precision machine shop, use its existing ERP (enterprise resource planning) system for better functionality and use of the embedded Quality Management System. The company trained its employees to put the company on a trajectory of successfully using the ERP system to achieve and maintain compliance with AS9100D for aerospace manufacturing. Notable outcomes include:

• Completed 85 training hours for seven employees.
• All employees learned the Quality Management System for AS9100 AND ISO9001.
• The company uses the ERP more than 50% of the time and expects to maintain that level or higher while acknowledging the challenge of doing so in a small business.

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2023-2025

Important Dates

2025-2026

Important Dates

Grant Program Guidelines and Resources

The following documents provide detailed information about how grant funds can be used, who can apply, the application process and deadlines.

For FY24-25:

• 2024-25 JSP Program Guidelines
• 2024-25 JSP Fiscal Guidelines
• 2024-25 JSP Assurances

JSP Webinar

• Applicant Webinar Recording
• Applicant Webinar Slides
• Application Questions and Answers (last update: April 22)

Applying for the Grant

All applications must be submitted using the SBCTC Online Grant Management System (OGMS).

Two additional forms must be uploaded as part of the application in OGMS:

• 2023-25 Project Outcome Measures
• 2023-25 Trainee, Match, and Courses spreadsheet

Final Grant Report

A final report summarizing the outcomes(s) for this grant is required of all JSP projects. Reports must be uploaded in OGMS to the "Attachments" section of each approved grant application. See the list of important dates for deadlines.

• 2023-25 Trainee, Match, Courses, and Final Report spreadsheet

Reports to Legislature

Job Skills Program reports are submitted by the State Board for Community and Technical colleges to the Washington State Legislature in fulfillment of RCW 28C.04.420 Job skills program — Grants — Reports.

• 2021-23 Job Skills biennial report
• 2019-21 Job Skills biennial report

Reports from prior years are available upon request.