The Employer Workforce Training Fund has $90,000 available for Coos and Curry businesses or business associations to use in upgrading their workforces’ skills.

The program is designed to help businesses retain and create quality jobs by increasing the skills of the current workforce and the competitiveness of private employers. This is new funding this year and allows individual workers to apply for training scholarships.

The eligibility criteria is as follows:

n Must operate business in Coos and/or Curry County.

n Must be in business in Oregon for at least 120 consecutive days.

n Must train current employees only.

n Must not have laid off employees in a United States facility within the past 120 days.

n Must provide in excess of a dollar for dollar cash match or in-kind contributions of goods, services or time.

n Must provide training in high-wage, high-demand or high-skill occupations.

This year’s applications are available with a due date for completed applications by close of business on Dec. 19. 

For more information or to request an application packet, contact Susie Yeiter or J.J. McLeod at South Coast Business Employment Corporation 269-2013, (800) 858-5777.

People also can visit SCBEC’s Web site at http://www.scbec.org; click on Employer Services, then the tab titled Workforce Training Fund.