Workforce Readiness: April

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How Can the ND Career Builders Scholarship & Loan Repayment Program Work for You?

The ND Career Builders program provides matching funds to help North Dakota businesses recruit employees and keep our talent in North Dakota. This workforce development tool is for businesses to recruit and retain talent in high-need occupations in ND, this innovative partnership provides $1 of state funds for each $1 of matching funds, up to a total of $17,000 per recipient! Individuals can receive a scholarship on the front end, loan repayment on the back-end, or both, for their commitment to the state to fill one of the high-demand occupations. It is a win-win for businesses, students, employees, and the state!

The program is driven by high-demand occupations in healthcare, manufacturing, information technology, industrial and skilled trades, education, social services and professional services.

For additional program information and to view a complete list of scholarship qualifying occupations and programs visit North Dakota University System | ND Career Builders (ndus.edu).

Operation Intern Program

Attracting workers to North Dakota is essential in helping to meet the state’s current and future workforce needs. Internships provide a valuable way for students to make connections with businesses and identify career options in North Dakota. Operation Intern is designed to expand the number of internships, work experience and apprenticeship positions with North Dakota employers.

The program’s primary focus is employers in the state’s targeted industries: energy, advanced manufacturing, value-added agriculture, tourism and technology-based businesses, and healthcare.

North Dakota businesses receive up to $4,000 in matching funds for the internships/apprenticeships. Funding can be used for items needed for the intern/apprentice to perform their internships, like wages, tools and equipment, essential training or tuition reimbursement. The funding is a one-to-one match.

The maximum amount of Operation Intern funds an employer can receive is $20,000 per funding round or $40,000 per biennium. Employers will be limited to a maximum of 5 interns each funding round. This biennium will have two funding rounds. The funding will start May 1 of every year of award. Applications will be accepted on February 1 of each funding year. Any funds not used in this time frame will be released and added to the funding for the second round. The second funding round will be from May 1. Applications will be accepted starting on February 1, 2024. Companies may apply for the maximum number of interns each round.

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Technical Skills Training Grant

The Technical Skills Training grant is designed to support eligible training providers and employers in their efforts to design and launch rapid, non-degree re-skilling and upskilling programs (with occupations listed on the In-Demand Occupations List), or expand capacity in existing programs that began after May 17, 2021. All tracks require a 1:1 match.

Track B is designed for companies wishing to provide internal upskilling opportunities for their existing staff to promote movement and advancement throughout the organization, create more comprehensive onboarding and new worker training programs, and/or provide safety training for employees. Programs in Track B may be eligible for up to $50,000 with a dollar-for-dollar match throughout the lifetime of the grant program.

Track C is designed to support workforce automation enhancement including but not limited to training and/or upskilling existing employees related to automation that has been implemented prior to the funding period; or to new or enhanced strategies, not to include the actual purchase of automation equipment. Programs in Track C may be eligible for up to $200,000 for training and or upskilling existing workforce related to automation. Applicants for Track C may apply for up to $100,000 for a feasibility study, related to automation.

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Automate ND Grant Program

The Automate ND Grant Program, a new initiative designed to help North Dakota businesses overcome workforce shortages and increase productivity through automation. The program, funded with $5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), will provide grants of up to $500,000 to North Dakota Primary Sector Certified (PSC) businesses, such as those in manufacturing and agricultural processing. These grants can be used to cover up to 50% of the cost of purchasing or leasing machinery, equipment, and software for automation projects.

The program aims to achieve several key objectives:

Increase productivity per employee: Automation can help businesses produce more goods and services with fewer workers.
Create upskilling opportunities: Businesses can use grant funds from the Technical Skills Training Grant (track C) to conduct a feasibility study on the purchase of automation equipment and train their employees on how to operate and maintain the new equipment.
Improve employee satisfaction: Automation can help to reduce repetitive tasks and create a safer work environment for employees.
Boost state GDP: Increased productivity from automation can lead to higher company profits and increased economic growth for North Dakota.

To be eligible for the Automate ND Grant Program, businesses must:

Be registered in North Dakota
Be a Primary Sector Certified business
Have fewer than 500 employees (tourism businesses are not eligible)
Complete a third-party feasibility study that assesses the project's impact on productivity, workforce needs, and return on investment (ROI).

Applications for the Automate ND Grant Program will be accepted from March 21st to May 30th, 2024.

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