Training for your Employees-Reduce the Digital Divide from NYC SBS

Small businesses – reduce the digital divide and retrain your team with online courses OR mid-sized businesses can apply for a federally funded, reimbursable grant to make retraining more affordable!

Small Business Services (SBS)’s Training for Your Employees

This program was designed to reduce the digital divide and help small business owners/employees receive training in the digital skills needed to build back, stabilize, and thrive in a post-COVID 19 business environment.

This new program provides business owners and their employees training in digital literacy, marketing tools, online security, and COVID-19 safety. Courses are being offered through Lehman College and select courses are available in Spanish and Chinese (Mandarin). Learn more here- website.

Small Businesses Program Eligibility:

• have at least one employee, working a minimum of eight hours per week;
• be a for-profit business in operation for at least six months; and
• pay employee(s) during training.

Employees must:

• be 18 years or older;
• work a minimum of eight hours per week; and
• have worked at the business for at least one month.
• Equipment needed: An e-mail account and a computer, tablet, or mobile device with a camera, microphone, speaker, and internet access.

Also offered: Customized Training Grant Program for Medium and Larger Sized Businesses

The Customized Training grant is a competitive, reimbursable training grant that offers financial support to make training employees more affordable. This program tends to be well-suited for medium and larger sized businesses. We believe that the right trainings can help a business’ bottom line, reduce employee turnover, improve morale, promote an efficient and productive workforce, and increase business’ competitiveness in the marketplace. Each business chooses a variety of trainings that meet their unique challenges; employees can take the same or different trainings – that’s what makes it customized! Applications are accepted year-round.

• reduce employee turnover

• improve morale

• develop your employee’s skills

• improve your bottom line

• promote an efficient and productive workforce

• increase your competitiveness in the marketplace.

Your business will:  

Grant Program Overview

• Grants range from $30,000-$400,000
• Businesses must be based in NYC, for-profit, and operating for more than one year
• Businesses must train at least 10 employees*
• Businesses pay for training costs up front and get reimbursed on a quarterly basis
• Employees can take different trainings
• Employees have one year to complete training
• Upon completion of training, businesses must provide wage increases.
  
  *Businesses with less than 10 employees can apply jointly as a consortium application to meet the trainee requirement. Please contact us for more information on applying as a consortium.

The NYC Department of Small Business Services helps unlock economic potential and create economic security for all New Yorkers by connecting New Yorkers to good jobs, creating stronger businesses, and building thriving neighborhoods across the five boroughs.

For more information on all of our services, call 311 or visit nyc.gov/sbs.

Learn more about the Career Discovery program offered by NYC Small Business Services. Read about new careers, training and resources for New Yorkers HERE