Guaranteed Free Training (GFT) Program

The Workforce & Economic Development Network of Pennsylvania (WEDnetPA) is a state-funded program administered by the Pennsylvania College of Technology in partnership with 22 community colleges, State System universities, the Pennsylvania College of Technology, and the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning & Development Commission. Funded through an appropriation from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED), WEDnetPA provides reimbursement grants to eligible Pennsylvania companies for workforce training completed within the fiscal year. The program is designed to strengthen the Commonwealth’s economic competitiveness by investing in skill-building for employees in key industry sectors aligned with the state’s Ten-Year Strategic Plan for Economic Development. The purpose of the grant is to support the training needs of companies in manufacturing, life sciences (including general medical and surgical hospitals), agriculture, energy, and robotics & technology. Training must build skills for current roles, advancement, or promotion, with the goal of improving company capabilities, performance, and competitiveness. Eligible training topics are broad, including business operations, computer operations, manufacturing fundamentals and technology, machine operations and maintenance, product and process control, software implementation, health and science applications, workplace behavior skills, and workplace health and safety. Training may be delivered onsite, offsite, or online by private-sector trainers, WEDnetPA partners, or qualified in-house staff, and must start and be completed between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. Each training session must last at least 30 minutes, and partial training cannot be reimbursed. Funding is available up to $2,000 per eligible employee, with a maximum of $100,000 per company. Companies may receive funding for no more than two consecutive years or three years within a five-year period. To qualify, companies must be located in Pennsylvania, operate primarily in an eligible key industry, be predominantly business-to-business, and provide their current six-digit NAICS code. Companies with annual Pennsylvania employee turnover rates of 25% or higher are generally ineligible unless a waiver is granted. Eligible employees must be full-time Pennsylvania residents earning at least $16.74 per hour (excluding benefits), eligible for full-time benefits, and employed at the specific location for which funding is awarded. The application process is conducted through the ISAAC online platform. Companies must submit an initial inquiry beginning August 1, 2025, followed by an application, a detailed training plan, and a signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) via DocuSign within 30 days of contract award. Applications are reviewed competitively in the order received, considering quality of training, geographic impact, and company size. Upon approval, companies may begin training and submit invoices for reimbursement within 45 days of completing each training event, or by the partner’s year-end deadline. The final statewide invoicing deadline is July 15, 2026. Certain entities and activities are not eligible, including brick-and-mortar retail businesses, cannabis businesses, educational institutions, employment agencies, gaming establishments, government agencies and facilities, most nonprofits (except eligible life sciences organizations), training providers, company orientation, and on-the-job training. Additional restrictions apply to costs such as travel, food, taxes, standalone test fees, hardware, software, and other non-training-related expenses. In-house training is limited to companies with fewer than 500 Pennsylvania employees and has specific documentation requirements. Interested companies should choose a certified WEDnetPA partner to guide them through the process. Partner contacts, including email and phone numbers, are listed in the program materials. Companies are responsible for ensuring all training providers meet program eligibility and cost reasonableness standards. For further details, applicants should consult the WEDnetPA website or contact a program partner directly to confirm eligibility, prepare the training plan, and meet submission requirements.

Choose a certified WEDnetPA partner for guidance, submit early due to competitive review, ensure training provider eligibility and cost reasonableness