Business Employees' Skills Training (BEST) Program

The Business Employees' Skills Training (BEST) program was established by the Wisconsin Legislature to help small businesses in industries that are facing severe labor shortages upgrade the skills of their workforce. Under the BEST program, Commerce can provide applicants with a tuition reimbursement grant to help cover a portion of the costs associated with training employees.

Eligible Applicants:

Eligible applicants include Wisconsin for-profit businesses that have 25 or fewer full time employees or annual sales of less than $2.5 million and are in one of the following Industrial Clusters:

• Automation
• Agriculture/Food Products
• Biotechnology
• Information Technology
• Manufacturing
• Medical Devices
• Paper/Forest Products
• Printing
• Tourism
• Childcare (does not include in-home childcare)

Eligible Employees:

Only costs incurred to train full-time employees are eligible.

Eligible Project Costs:

Eligible Project Costs are limited to tuition costs for courses that are directly related to the employee's work requirements.

Note: All training must be provided by a qualified independent third party that is acceptable to COMMERCE.

Ineligible Project Costs:

• Costs incurred to train part-time and/or seasonal employees.

• Costs incurred prior to Commerce making a formal funding decision.

Match Requirement:

Applicants will be required to provide a cash match of at least 25% of the Eligible Project Costs.

Funding Availability:

The maximum funding available is 75% of Eligible Project Costs not to exceed $1,000 per full-time employee trained and $5,000 per business.

Underwriting Criteria:

Given the limited funds available, projects are awarded on a competitive basis. Although Commerce can provide up to 75% of Eligible Project Costs, the actual level of participation, if any, is determined by an analysis of the following:

• Whether the business is in an Industrial Cluster

• The wage level and benefit package provided to the employee being trained in relation to the cost of the training.

• The impact the training will have on the applicant's business operations.

• Viability of the applicant

• Qualifications of the trainer

• Whether the business is located in a Development Zone

• Availability of funds

The Application Process:

Click here to download the application kit (180KB, pdf)

The applicant will complete the application manual and submit it to Commerce for review by a Business Finance Specialist. The Business Finance Specialist will underwrite the project and make a funding recommendation. The applicant will receive a decision in approximately 15 business days from Commerce's receipt of a complete application. Incomplete applications will be withdrawn from consideration for funding.

If the grant is approved, the applicant will enter into a contract with Commerce that details the terms and conditions of the award.

INFORMATION ON TRAINING PROGRAMS:

Although there are numerous eligible training providers within the state of Wisconsin, Commerce recommends that you first contact your local technical college or Small Business Development Center. These entities can help you identify and develop a training program that will adequately meet your needs.

Small Business Development Center Locations and Phone Numbers	Wisconsin Technical College System Locations and Phone Numbers
UW-Eau Claire SBDC Phone: 715/836.5811 UW-Green Bay SBDC Phone: 920/469.9010 UW-La Crosse SBDC Phone: 608/785.8782 UW-Madison SBDC Phone: 608/263.7680 UW-Milwaukee SBDC Phone: 414/227.3240 UW-Oshkosh SBDC Phone: 800/232.8939 UW-Parkside SBDC: Kenosha County Phone: 262/697.4525 Racine County Phone: 262/638.1713 UW-Platteville SBDC Phone: 608/342.1038 UW-River Falls SBDC Phone: 715/425.0620 UW-Stevens Point SBDC Phone: 715/346.3838 UW-Superior SBDC Phone: 715/394.8351 UW-Whitewater SBDC Phone: 262/472.3217 State Office Phone: 608/263.7794	Blackhawk Phone: 608/758.6900 Chippewa Valley Phone: 715/833.6200 Fox Valley Phone: 920/735.5645 Gateway Phone: 262/564.2200 Lakeshore Phone: 920/693.8213 Madison Area Phone: 608/246.6100 Mid-State Phone: 715/422.5300 Milwaukee Area Phone: 414/297.6600 Moraine Park Phone: 800/472.4554 Nicolet Area Phone: 715/365.4410 Northcentral Phone: 715/675.3331 Northeast Wisconsin Phone: 920/498.5700 Southwest Wisconsin Phone: 800/362.3322 Waukesha County Phone: 877/463.9282 Western Wisconsin Phone: 800/322.9982 Wisconsin Indianhead Phone: 800/243.9482