When the labor market connot respond to an employer's needs, or when additional skills are necessary because of a particular business situation, the Delaware Economic Development Office has access to recognized educational resources, which can provide skill training tailored to a company's specifications. Training contracts may be arranged with colleges, vocational schools, specialized training centers, and independent agencies that provide business, industrial, and service-related instruction. Workforce Development also supports in-house , on-the-job training.

The Blue Collar Training Fund is created by a .15% assessment of the unemployment insurance tax paid on the first $8,500 of employee wages. Throughout the fiscal year, DEDO receives 25% of the receipts generated by this assessment.

This fund is used to help Delaware businesses provide customized training programs to upgrade and/or retrain their employees (Current Employee Training), provide financial assistance to full- or part-time employees (Workforce Development Grant) and to help the Office of State Personnel provide career ladder training for State employees (State Employees Job Training Program). Please refer to the Funded Training chart under "Funding Sources".

Subsidized Training
For new and expanding businesses and business retention purposes, subsidized training programs can be arranged. The amount and type of subsidy are determined by the size of the business, its potential impact on Delaware's economy, and the availability of other training resources. Workforce Development makes use of special state funds for training. Programs are developed to meet the stated hiring needs and skill levels of specific businesses. Industry maintains total control of the hiring decision.

General Characteristics of Training
Most training programs share these common characteristics:

• Short-term
• Cost-effective
• On-site, classroom or on-th-job (primarily) full-time entry-level related; necessary for entry/re-entry into workforce
• Transferable skills
• Job retention/retraining
• Increases in individual productivity
• Permits upgrade in salary, position or related benefits