Topeka Relocation
Guide 2008
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Workforce Education & Training
Education
Topeka and Shawnee County boast a workforce with a majority of residents having between 12 and 15 years of education, which is higher than the national average. Our schools and vocational training facilities strive to provide courses and programs that reflect the current demands of the business community.
The State of Kansas dedicates resources for employers to train and retrain employees in work-related skills. Expansion Management magazine recently ranked Kansas 12th in the nation for ease of access and overall financial value to clients. And, through our new Kansas 1st initiative, companies are receiving more value than ever from our workforce training and performance support.
Training
The State of Kansas dedicates resources for employers to train and retrain employees in work-related skills. Expansion Management magazine recently ranked Kansas 12th in the nation for ease of access and overall financial value to clients. And, through our new Kansas 1st initiative, companies are receiving more value than ever from our workforce training and performance support. Companies new to Kansas, or Kansas businesses needing to expand or restructure, may qualify for assistance under one of our workforce training programs. Contact Kathy Moellenberndt or Jo Beilman at 785.234.2644.
These flexible programs offer:
- A program customized to your specific training needs, so your employees develop better skills, faster.
- A collaborative effort between your company, Kansas 1st, and training providers to train for the right employee knowledge, skills, and abilities, at the right time.
- Consulting and assistance in workplace training and performance issues as you develop your employees' competencies.
- Streamlined processes for application to the programs and access to program benefits.
- Maximum flexibility and minimal "red tape."
Training Tailored for Business Results
Kansas 1st offers free, professional consultations and a growing number of options to assist in meeting your workforce training needs, whether you are training a start-up workforce, adding new jobs to an existing business, or retraining current employees with new skills.
The new Kansas 1st initiative adds value to companies doing their business in Kansas by providing more options than ever. We can help you recruit and screen employees with competencies required for success in your company. We can help you analyze jobs and develop training curricula. Kansas 1st is customizing a growing reservoir of business-relevant training expertise within educational institutions, tailored to help your company achieve your desired results.
We collaborate with you to design a unique training plan to meet the specific skill sets you require of your employees. When appropriate, we can offer financial assistance to offset your firm's training costs through the most appropriate Kansas training program. A profile of each of these programs, eligibility criteria, and information concerning how to apply for assistance is provided in the summary table later in this section.
The best news is that this list of new services is by no means comprehensive. As we re-engineer our workforce development system to ensure that Kansas can continue to provide you with the qualified employees you need, our list of services will grow accordingly.
State Training Institutions
Kansas' public training institutions have developed strong partnerships with businesses throughout the state. We can offer your business hundreds of existing training programs or design one to meet your needs through our 16 technical schools, 19 community colleges, and seven universities. Many companies have taken advantage of these invaluable resources for standardized or custom-designed training.
Technical colleges and Area Technical Schools (ATS) serve business and industry directly through short-term programs for adults seeking competency-based instruction in order to meet the skill requirements of individual employers. ATS also provide occupational training for secondary, post-secondary, and adult students. By partnering with an ATS to combine classroom and on-the-job training, you may be able to credential your employees in nationally recognized industry apprenticeships. Including this step in training plans has been shown to improve skills, knowledge, work quality, and employee retention.
Community colleges in Kansas are powerful vocational training sites, customizing training plans as well as offering standard curricula. In fact, a full third of community college students are enrolled in vocational programs.
Workforce Training Stats
| Kansas Industrial Training Program |
4,066 |
1,889 |
1,711 |
| Kansas Industrial Retraining Program |
5,267 |
5,259 |
4,976 |
| Investments in Project & Comprehensive Training |
2,038 |
2,515 |
2,342 |
| Totals |
11,371 |
9,663 |
9,029 |
Regents institutions play a key role in Kansas' economic development strategy, particularly in the crucial areas of research and continuing education. Our six Regents universities award approximately 11,000 bachelor's, 3,600 master's, and nearly 400 doctoral degrees each year.
Washburn University, founded in 1865, is the only remaining municipal university in the nation. Located in Topeka, Washburn serves the business community primarily through its Department of Continuing Education and schools of applied science and business.
Kansas 1st Process
Contact a Kansas 1st representative for a free initial consultation. The Kansas 1st team will meet with you to determine the workplace learning and performance goals you set for your company. The team can then recommend a package of services to provide your employees with the knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to help your company meet its goals. The package may include some training services directly through Kansas 1st, and reimbursement for other training services.
For more information about workforce training opportunities in Kansas, please contact Commerce at (785) 296-3339.
Kansas Industrial Training Program (KIT)
| DESIGINED FOR |
New and expanding businesses. Customized to your company's needs. |
| TYPE OF TRAINING |
Pre-Employment Training: Prospective employees usually attend classes on their own time, without pay, while gaining detailed knowledge of specific skills necessary for job entry. Allows company and potential employee to evaluate one another before making a commitment.
Employee Training: Employees on the payroll receive instruction on the company's equipment in a classroom or on the work floor. Each program is customized to match your company's specific need. Pre-Employment and On-the-Job Training may be combined.
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| WHO IS ELIGIBLE |
Basic Enterprises* creating at least one new job paying at least $8.50 per hour in Douglas, Johnson, Leavenworth, Sedgwick, Shawnee, and Wyandotte counties, or $8.00 per hour in the rest of the state (excluding recalled workers, replacement workers, or formerly existing jobs). |
| COVERED EXPENSES |
We pay negotiated costs for instructors* salaries; travel, meals, and lodging; videotape development; training manuals and textbooks; supplies and materials; minor equipment; certain utility costs; temporary training facitlities; and curriculum planning and development.
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| INSTRUCTOR SELECTION |
Instructors may come from your supervisory staff, community colleges, technical schools, consultants, vendors, etc. If desired, we can assist in locating qualified instructors.
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| TRAINING FACILITIES |
State universities, vocational-technical schools, community colleges, temporary rental facilities, or your facility.
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| TRAINEE SELECTION |
You retain complete control over your hiring specificaitons and ifnal trainee selection. Assistance in screening potential trainees and employees is available. |
| HOW TO APPLY |
Contact a Kansas 1st staff member for eligibility screening and assistance. Kansas 1st training staff contact information is listed at the end of this section. |
| *Basic Enterprises include manufacturing, distribution, regional or national service facilities, and other businesses primarily engaged in the development or production of goods or the provision of services for out-of-state sale. |
 Kansas Industrial Retraining Program (KIR)
| DESIGINED FOR |
Restructuring companies whose employees are likely to be displaced due to obsolete or inadequate job skills. Customized to your company's needs.
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| TYPE OF TRAINING |
Employee Training: Employees on the payroll receive instruction on the company's equipment in a classroom or on the work floor. Each program is customized to match your company's specific need.
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| WHO IS ELIGIBLE |
Basic Enterprises* that are restructuring due to the incorporation of existing technology, new technology, product diversification, or new production activities. Minimum training requirement of one existing employee. Average employee wages must be at least $8.50 per hour in Douglas, Johnson, Leavenworth, Sedgwick, Shawnee, and Wyandotte counties, or $8.00 per hour in the rest of the state.
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| COVERED EXPENSES |
We pay negotiated costs for instructors* salaries; travel, meals, and lodging; videotape development; training manuals and textbooks; supplies and materials; minor equipment; certain utility costs; temporary training facitlities; and curriculum planning and development. Requires matching funds from your company.
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| INSTRUCTOR SELECTION |
Instructors may come from your supervisory staff, community colleges, technical schools, consultants, vendors, etc. If desired, we can assist in locating qualified instructors.
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| TRAINING FACILITIES |
State universities, vocational-technical schools, community colleges, temporary rental facilities, or your facility.
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| TRAINEE SELECTION |
Existing employees likely to be displaced due to obsolete or inadequate job skills and knowledge.
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| HOW TO APPLY |
Contact a Kansas 1st staff member for eligibility screening and assistance. Kansas 1st training staff contact information is listed at the end of this section.
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| * Basic Enterprises include manufacturing, distribution, regional or national service facilities, and other businesses primarily
engaged in the development or production of goods or the provision of services for out-of-state sale.
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Investments in Major Projects and Comprehensive Training Program (IMPACT)
| DESIGINED FOR |
New and expanding businesses or consortiums of businesses that are creating a large number of new jobs and/or new jobs paying above-average wages. The IMPACT Program may also be used for job retention projects that have compelling economic benefits for Kansas. Minimum Requirements: Must retrain a minimum of 250 jobs with a capital investment minimum of $50 million. Customized to your company's needs.
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| TYPE OF TRAINING |
Same as KIT program.
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| WHO IS ELIGIBLE |
Same as KIT and KIR programs. IMPACT is typically reserved for projects involving at least 100 new jobs at a higher-than-average wage. Projects with less than 100 new jobs may be funded but must involve wage levels significantly higher than average. Retraining projects in Shawnee county must retrain at least 250 employees.
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| COVERED EXPENSES |
The State of Kansas will pay negotiated costs for instructors' salaries; travel, meals, and lodging; videotape development; training manuals and textbooks; supplies and materials; minor equipment; certain utility costs; temporary training facilities; and curriculum planning and development. Also, up to 50 percent of funds may be used to lease or purchase training equipment for local educational institutions. Ten percent of funds are reinvested by the Secretary of Commerce in educational institutions to improve their training capabilities.
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| PAYBACK PROVISIONS |
If your company is unable to create or retain jobs and employee wages in accordance with its annual projections, you may be required to repay a portion of the funds on a shared basis with the state. If your company leaves Kansas before the state's investment in the project is recovered, the full cost must be repaid less withholding taxes already collected.
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| INSTRUCTOR SELECTION |
Instructors may come from your supervisory staff, community colleges, technical schools, consultants, vendors, etc. If desired, we can assist in locating qualified instructors.
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| TRAINING FACILITIES |
State universities, vocational-technical schools, community colleges, temporary rental facilities, or your facility.
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| TRAINEE SELECTION |
You retain complete control over your hiring specificaitons and ifnal trainee selection. Assistance in screening potential trainees and employees is available.
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| COMMENTS |
IMPACT has two major components: SKILL (State of Kansas Investments in Lifelong Learning) and MPI (Major Project Investment). SKILL funds may be used to pay for workforce training expenses. MPI funds may be used for other expenses related to the project such as the purchase or relocation of equipment, labor recruitment, or building costs. The Department of Commerce can provide direct training services and/or direct funding.
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| HOW TO APPLY |
You and a Kansas public educational institution (area technical school, technical college, community college, regents institution, municipal university) jointly submit a training proposal to Commerce. Kansas Department of Commerce recommends a funding amount based on factors including the level of training required, the overall efficiency of the project, and the quality of jobs created. |
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