(Helena) – The Montana Department of Labor and Industry has been awarded 4.8 million dollars in federal funding to expand employer-led workforce training in high-demand industries.
Governor Greg Gianforte announced that the reward will establish the Montana Skills Fund. This statewide program will provide outcome-based reimbursements to eligible employers for approved training costs, helping companies train newly hired and current workers. The initiative will initially focus on advanced manufacturing, computing, and the construction trades.
Under the program’s performance-based model, employers will receive 80 percent of approved training costs after an employee completes training. The remaining 20 percent will be paid after the employee remains employed for six months.
The state will administer the fund alongside industry organizations, utilizing existing unemployment insurance records to verify outcomes and minimize paperwork. Eligibility requirements and application timelines will be announced in early 2027.
