Incumbent Worker Training

Incumbent Worker Training is sponsored by Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) / Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Fund. This program reimburses manufacturers for half (50%) of the training costs incurred to upskill their employees to meet current and emerging market demands.

Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Fund 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) See if you qualify — free Researched for this program: 4 rejection traps · 4 required documents What 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.

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.

Rolling — applications accepted on an ongoing basis through the CCAT grants portal while MIF funds remain 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) Tuition and fees for incumbent-worker training Training provider / course costs Credentialing and certification costs tied to the training 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 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. 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. 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.

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. 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. Applications are open — don’t lose the window GrantCompass tracks Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Fund — Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Program’s application windows in the live catalog. Leave an email and we’ll warn you before this window closes — and tell you when the next round opens.

Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Fund Voucher Program (MVP) Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Fund — Apprenticeship Program Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Fund — Additive Manufacturing Voucher Program Connecticut Research & Development Tax Credit Compare all 665 programs side by side Filter by amount, effort, odds → Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) / CCAT Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Fund Voucher Program (MVP) Connecticut Innovations Pre-Seed Investment Program Connecticut Innovations Proof-of-Concept Fund $50K–$100K convertible note Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), administered by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Fund — Additive Manufacturing Voucher Program Connecticut Innovations Pre-Seed Investment Program Up to $150K pre-seed · Open now Connecticut Innovations Proof-of-Concept Fund $50K–$100K convertible note · Open now Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) / CCAT Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Fund Voucher Program (MVP) $6,250–$100,000 · Open now Alternatives computed from the live GrantCompass catalog on October 1, 2026 — all 162 open grant programs · filter the database .

Connecticut small business grants All 660+ US funding programs Last updated September 5, 2026 . GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page .