Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Fund — Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Program
Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), administered by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT)
$2,500–$50,000/yr (50% match)
Researched for this program: 4 rejection traps · 4 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓
CT manufacturer upskilling grant
The Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Program is a track of Connecticut's $75M Manufacturing Innovation Fund (MIF) that reimburses Connecticut manufacturers for half the cost of training they provide to upskill existing employees for current and emerging market demands. It is a matching grant: the manufacturer pays for the training and is reimbursed 50% of eligible costs, from $2,500 up to $50,000 per year (and up to a $100,000 lifetime maximum per employer). The program is administered by CCAT through its grants portal and is distinct from the MIF's Manufacturing Voucher Program (MVP) and Apprenticeship Program. It is currently active.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- $2,500 – $50,000
- Realistic amount
- Most awards track the training a manufacturer actually delivers in a year — commonly in the $5,000–$25,000 reimbursement range for a focused upskilling effort, with larger awards (toward the $50,000 annual cap) for employers running substantial multi-course training.
- Deadline
- Rolling — applications accepted on an ongoing basis through the CCAT grants portal while MIF funds remain
- Status
- active
- States
- Connecticut
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Connecticut-based manufacturer (employer sponsor)
- Training must upskill existing (incumbent) employees
- Employer must match 50% of eligible training costs
- Subject to annual cap ($50,000/yr) and lifetime cap ($100,000 per employer)
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Tuition and fees for incumbent-worker training
- Training provider / course costs
- Credentialing and certification costs tied to the training
Ineligible expenses
- Costs above the employer's 50% match / annual cap
- Training for non-incumbent (new-hire) staff where program-ineligible
- Capital equipment unrelated to training
- General operating expenses
How to apply
-
1
Identify the training and confirm eligibility
Define the incumbent-worker training, the employees to be trained, and the eligible costs. Confirm your company is a CT-based manufacturer.
~3 hrs
-
2
Apply through the CCAT grants portal
Submit the IWT application via grants.ccat.us with the training plan and budget. CCAT administers review and approval on behalf of DECD's MIF.
~4 hrs
-
3
Deliver training and submit for reimbursement
Conduct the approved training, retain documentation and proof of payment, and submit reimbursement claims for 50% of eligible costs up to the annual cap.
~4 hrs
Because it reimburses 50% up to $50,000/year with a $100,000 lifetime cap, plan training in annual tranches to maximize total recovery across years rather than front-loading one large spend that blows past the annual cap. Apply through CCAT before you incur the cost so the spend is pre-approved.
Deadline & timing
The annual reimbursement cap resets per program year; the lifetime cap is $100,000 per employer. Apply before incurring training costs where possible and follow CCAT's submission instructions.
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