Job Training Incentive Program

Job Training Incentive Program

Supports Greater Minnesota businesses creating permanent jobs through on-the-job training grants up to two hundred thousand.

The Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP), administered by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), provides grants of up to $200,000 to new or expanding businesses in Greater Minnesota that are creating new permanent jobs. The program is designed to enable fast, on-the-job training for workers entering newly created positions. Eligible costs include direct training costs such as trainee wages during on-the-job training, curriculum development, training materials and equipment, trainer travel and lodging, and assessment and certification costs. Training can be delivered in-house, by educational institutions, by consultants, or by equipment vendors.

To qualify, a business must be located outside the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area — or in one of five eligible adjacent cities: Cannon Falls, Hanover, Rockford, Northfield, or New Prague. The business must add at least three new permanent positions paying wages of at least $39,600 per year (the 2026 wage floor at 120 percent of federal poverty guidelines for a family of four), providing at least 32 hours per week for a minimum of nine months per year. A 0.5:1 business match is required, meaning the business covers approximately one-third of eligible training costs. Applications are scored, and a minimum score of 30 points is required to receive funding.

Applications are accepted year-round on a first-come, first-served basis until program funds are exhausted. DEED reviews complete applications and notifies businesses of approval or denial within 15 business days — one of the fastest turnaround times in DEED's portfolio. The JTIP application guide and forms were updated in February 2026. Businesses adding technical, manufacturing, or skilled-trades positions in Greater Minnesota and ready to begin training promptly should apply early in the fiscal year to maximize funding availability. Contact: deed.mjsp@state.mn.us or 651-259-7514.