Smart Workforce Solutions

Incentives to Grow the Workforce

The primary outcome of the Missouri Career Center workforce development system is to boost the economic vitality of Southwest Missouri. This demand-driven approach focuses on the needs of businesses and deployment of resources to save businesses time and money through employment and training services. Helping the bottom line for business not only helps retain businesses to Southwest Missouri, but also helps re-direct the savings into additional job creation and local investment into the economy.

On-the-Job Training in Southwest Missouri

The Missouri Career Center provides resources to employers and connects them employees to fund up to 50% of on-the-job training for a specified period. This training incentive helps new hires be more successful for the employer and reduces turnover and recruitment costs for the business. More

Customized Training Program

Classroom Training incentive programs in Missouri provides funding for employers training new or existing employees in a classroom setting. Assistance may be available for training costs such as curriculum development, instructional salaries, and training materials. Local education agencies, private vendors, or company personnel may provide the training. More

Community College New Jobs Training Program

Whether your company is expanding its workforce or locating a new facility in the State, this program is designed to assist with the costs of training the employees in the newly created jobs. Training activities such as skill assessment, orientation, pre-employment training, occupational skill training, and on-the-job training can be included in the project. More

Missouri Quality Jobs Program

The Show-Me State boasts a high-caliber incentive program to facilitate new jobs by targeted business projects. For “Small/Expanding” businesses, the benefits of the program are the retention of the state withholding tax of the new jobs. For “Technology” and “High Impact” businesses, the benefits of the program are (a) the retention of the state withholding tax of the new jobs; and (b) state tax credits, which are refundable and/or sellable. The program benefits are based on a percentage of the payroll of the new jobs. More on Quality Jobs

Enterprise Zone Program

Missouri’s Enterprise Zone program is available in parts of Southwest Missouri undergoing community re-development. Enhanced Enterprise Zones are specified geographic areas designated by local governments and certified by the Department of Economic Development (DED). Zone designation is based on certain demographic criteria, the potential to create sustainable jobs in a targeted industry and a demonstrated impact on local industry cluster development. More

Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Incentives

Federal income tax credits may be provided as a financial incentive to hire from up to eight different groups of job seekers with barriers. A certification for a federal income tax credit of up to $2,400 will be issued for each new hire that is certified by the Missouri Division of Workforce Development (DWD) as a member of one of the following target groups: Short-term Welfare recipients; 18-24 year-old Food Stamp recipients; Veterans receiving Food Stamps; Vocational Rehabilitation referrals; 18-24 year-old Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community residents; 16-17 year-old Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community residents hired as Summer Youth Employees. More on WOTC

Welfare to Work Tax Credit

The Division of Workforce Development administers the program in the State of Missouri. Qualifying new hires are those certified by the Missouri Division of Workforce Development (DWD) as a member of the long- term Welfare recipient target group defined as a member of a family that: Received AFDC/TANF (Welfare) for the last 18 consecutive months ending on the hiring date, OR Received AFDC/TANF for any 18 months since August 5, 1997 and is hired within 2 years after the earliest 18-month period, OR Stopped being eligible for AFDC/TANF because the 60-month lifetime limit was reached and is hired within 2 years of the eligibility expiration date. More on WTC

Federal Bonding Program

Selected job applicants that are determined to be “at-risk” can be eligible to be bonded for a six-month period. The Federal Bonding Program provides an employer with no cost, no deductible insurance coverage if they hire eligible, at-risk job applicants. More

Other Tax Incentive Programs

The Missouri Department of Economic Development administers an array of tax incentive programs on behalf of local communiites. Here’s the rundown on what’s available.

Training through Apprenticeships

Registered apprenticeship is a formalized career-training program that offers a combination of structured on-the-job training and related theoretical instruction. As apprenticeship training standards are industry-driven, businesses play a major role in determining the skills that are essential to build and sustain a quality workforce. Apprenticeship sponsors include individual employers, associations of employers or labor and management partnerships. More