Washington Customized Training Program
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC)
State-subsidized (partial)
WA community colleges deliver custom training at state-subsidized rates
Washington's Customized Training Program partners Washington community and technical colleges with employers to design and deliver job-specific training for new or expanding businesses. The state subsidizes a portion of training costs through the college system — employers contribute to training design and delivery but receive college-quality customized instruction at below-market rates. Primarily targets businesses creating or retaining jobs in Washington.
- Funding type
- Program
- Level
- State
- Amount
- State subsidy covers a portion of training development and delivery costs through the community college system. Employer contribution required; subsidy percentage varies by project scope and county.
- Realistic amount
- Employers typically pay 30–60% of equivalent market training costs; state subsidizes the remainder through college infra…
- Deadline
- Rolling — contact your local Washington community or technical college workforce division.
- Status
- active
- States
- WA
- Payment model
- subsidized services
Who qualifies
- Employer must be located in Washington State or opening a new Washington facility
- Training must be for Washington-based employees (new hires or incumbent workers)
- Business must be creating or retaining jobs in Washington
- Training must be occupationally specific — not generic or off-the-shelf coursework
- Any size employer eligible; small businesses in rural areas receive additional support through the Rural Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund
- Training partnership is established between employer and a specific Washington community or technical college
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Curriculum design and instructional development by college staff
- Instructor delivery of customized training
- Lab and simulation training using college equipment
- Training materials and supplies developed for the specific program
- Assessment and credential development tied to the training program
Ineligible expenses
- Employee wages during training
- Generic off-the-shelf courses already available in the college catalog without customization
- Training for employees located outside Washington
- Pure safety compliance training without skill development component
- Administrative and overhead costs
How to apply
-
1
Contact a Washington community or technical college
Reach out to the workforce training or continuing education division at a nearby Washington community or technical college. They will assess your training needs and connect you with SBCTC's customized training resources.
~2 hrs
-
2
Training needs assessment with college partner
College workforce staff conduct a needs assessment — job roles, required skills, number of trainees, timeline, and preferred training delivery format (on-site, hybrid, lab-based).
~5 hrs
-
3
Develop customized curriculum and training agreement
College instructional designers build a customized curriculum. A training services agreement is signed between the employer and college — defining scope, schedule, trainee count, and cost-sharing.
~4 hrs
-
4
Deliver training
College instructors deliver training at the employer's facility, the college campus, or a hybrid setting. Employer provides access to equipment and operational context; college provides curriculum and instruction.
~2 hrs
Start with your nearest community or technical college — they're the local access point. Boeing, Paccar, and major WA aerospace firms use this program regularly. Ask specifically about the 'Boeing-model' rapid-skill cohort programs that colleges have adapted for manufacturing.
Deadline & timing
The Customized Training Program operates year-round. Engagement begins by contacting the workforce training director at a local Washington community or technical college. There are no statewide application windows — projects are negotiated and launched on a rolling basis.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.