Empower Your Workforce

Incumbent Worker Training Program

Enhance your business by reskilling and upskilling your current employees with our comprehensive training programs.

Take Action Today!

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to improve your workforce and receive financial support for training. Join the Incumbent Worker Training Program now!

About the IWT Program

The Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) program is designed to help local businesses in Missouri retain and advance their employees. By participating, businesses can increase their competitiveness, avoid layoffs, and stimulate the local economy. Administered through local organizations, the program ensures that participants receive personalized support from community members who understand the local economic landscape. The IWT program is a valuable resource for businesses looking to invest in their workforce and foster long-term growth.

Key Features of the Incumbent Worker Training Program

Reimbursement for Training Costs

Receive financial support to cover the expenses of training your employees, making it easier to invest in their development.

Customizable Curriculum

Design a training program that fits the specific needs of your business and employees, ensuring relevant and effective skill development.

Skill Retention and Advancement

Help your employees acquire new skills and advance within your organization, reducing turnover and fostering loyalty.

Economic Stimulus

Contribute to the local economy by developing a more skilled workforce, which can lead to business growth and community prosperity.

Qualifications for Participation

To qualify for the Incumbent Worker Training Program, your business must demonstrate a need to prevent potential layoffs or the necessity to acquire skills for employee retention and advancement.

Additionally, you must develop a training curriculum that leads to a wage increase and provide a certificate of achievement upon completion. All necessary paperwork must be signed and approved before the training begins.

Ensuring these qualifications are met will help your business benefit from the program and support the growth and development of your workforce.

Understanding Incumbent Workers

What is an Incumbent Worker?

An incumbent worker is an employee who has already been hired and has completed initial orientation or training. These workers may have been with your company for many years and are integral to its operations. The Incumbent Worker Training Program provides an opportunity to further develop these employees, allowing them to gain new skills and advance within the organization. This not only enhances their career prospects but also opens up entry-level positions for new hires, fostering a cycle of growth and development within your business.

Take Action Today!

For more information, email us or click below to find the Job Center closest to you.

Central Region News

Central Region Joins Local Partners At Lebanon Summer Outreach Event

Free community resources came together at the Lebanon YMCA this summer, with the Central Workforce Development Region on hand to connect attendees with job seeker services.

Central Workforce Development Region Signs Lease for New Jefferson City Job Center

Jefferson City is set to have a Missouri Job Center again after several years without one, thanks to a new partnership between the Central Workforce Development Board and First Christian Church Disciples of Christ. The center will offer employment services, resume help, training, and apprenticeship support to job seekers across the community.

First Christian Church to House Missouri Job Center

A new Missouri Job Center is coming to downtown Jefferson City, opening in a partnership between First Christian Church and Missouri Workforce Development this fall.

Hire a Veteran Day Brings Veterans and Employers Together at the Missouri State Capitol

Veterans, employers, and workforce partners gathered at the Missouri State Capitol on Friday, July 24, for Hire a Veteran Day. Missouri Job Center staff from Columbia and Sedalia connected attendees with employment opportunities, career resources, and services designed to support veterans in their next career.

Fast Track Incentive Grant Application Now Open for the 2026-2027 Academic Year

Missouri adults returning to school have a new opportunity to make training affordable. The Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant application is now open for the 2026-2027 academic year, covering tuition, fees, and apprenticeship costs for eligible students pursuing careers in high-demand industries.

The Hardest Words in the Room

Every day, people walk through the doors of Central Region Job Centers and do one of the hardest things a person can do — they ask for help. So why is it so hard for the rest of us to do the same?

A Single Mom Bets on Herself and Builds a Healthcare Career (Stephanie’s Story)

ingle mom Stephanie Stapleton turned a low-wage gas station job into a healthcare career, earning her Medical Assistant certifications with WIOA Adult and Healthy Blue support.

Missouri Jobs Report: June 2026 — Employment Crosses 3 Million and Unemployment Drops to 3.7%

Missouri’s total nonfarm payroll employment crossed 3 million jobs in June 2026, and the unemployment rate fell to 3.7 percent — three-tenths of a point lower than a year ago. Here’s a breakdown of the latest data and what it means for mid-Missouri.

How a Wonderland Camp Partnership Is Turning Internships Into Jobs

A day of service at Wonderland Camp highlighted a partnership that keeps growing stronger, with former summer interns now hired on as camp employees

From the Marine Corps to the ICU: DeAundre’s Story

After separating from the Marine Corps, DeAundre set his sights on nursing. With support from WIOA Dislocated Worker, EDA, and Healthy Blue, he’s now an RN in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at MU Healthcare.

The Hardest Words in the Room

Every day, people walk through the doors of Central Region Job Centers and do one of the hardest things a person can do — they ask for help. So why is it so hard for the rest of us to do the same?

read more

Tune into the podcast

The Workforce Link Podcast with Sundi Jo Graham

The Workforce Link Podcast offers forward thinking conversations for the workforce, linking employers and job seekers to a brighter tomorrow. 

Hosted by Sundi Jo Graham from the Central Workforce Development Board, The Workforce Link covers job searching, resume and interview tips, leadership, personal development, and features interviews with industry leaders from the private and public sectors.

Translate »