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Are you eligible for a workforce training program? Find out today. |
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The IMPACT program is a funding mechanism designed to respond to the training and capital requirements of major business expansions and locations in the state.
IMPACT has two major components: SKILL (State of Kansas Investments in Lifelong Learning) and MPI (Major Project Investment). SKILL funds may be used to pay for expenses related to training a new workforce. MPI funds may be used for other expenses related to the project such as the purchase or relocation of equipment, labor recruitment, or building costs.
IMPACT costs are financed through tax exempt, public purpose bonds issued on an as needed basis by the Kansas Development Finance Authority. These bonds are retired through the revenue received from the deferment of state withholding taxes from the new jobs.
Eligible costs for IMPACT’s SKILL funds are similar to those covered under KIT and KIR.
Assistance is targeted to Kansas Basic Industries— firms involved in manufacturing, distribution, regional or national service, agriculture, mining, research and development, interstate transportation, and tourism activities primarily aimed at attracting out-of-state tourists. Non-basic industries may receive training services only if compelling economic benefit to the state can be shown and/or if the project has an impact on occupations involved in businesses that play a supporting role in economic development efforts. Examples of such projects might include those targeting severe labor shortages in specific occupations, housing shortages, and certain business services. Swine production facilities are not eligible.
IMPACT is designed for new and expanding businesses that are creating or retraining a large number of jobs paying higher than average wages. Companies creating new positions are typically required to create and train a minimum of 100 net new positions. Companies who are involved in retraining projects must retrain a minimum of 250 existing positions in Douglas, Johnson, Leavenworth, Sedgwick, Shawnee, and Wyandotte counties or 100 existing positions in the rest of the state.
Companies engaged in job retention/employee retraining projects must show that employees to be trained are likely to be displaced because of obsolete or inadequate job skills and knowledge. They must also show they are restructuring their business operations through incorporation of one or more of the following:
• Existing technology (new to the company)
• Development and incorporation of new technology (either emerging or new to the company)
• Diversification of production or development and implementation of new production
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