Frequently Asked Questions
Most frequent questions and answers
What is the WIOA Hillsborough County Grant?
It is called the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). It is a job program. It provides free training grants to aid people get trained, certified and placed in high demand fields such as IT, cyber-security, business intelligence, project management and more. The idea is that there are fields in which there are not enough certified people and there are declining fields in which there are too many people. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) tries to fix this problem by providing free funding for career training in high demand fields to those who are eligible for this grant. This training is designed to make your skills marketable so you can get a job and get back into the workforce. This is a grant, not a loan. If you are eligible, everything is included, even the exam.
Can I use this grant for any program I want?
This is a jobs program so you must choose a program where there is a high likelihood of gainingemployment. Each county has a regionally targeted occupations list (RTOL) to choose from. They want to make sure you select an occupation that is in high demand. For each authorized occupation, there will be authorized training plans to choose from.
How Do I Qualify?
Eligibility and final approval are determined solely by your local CareerSource office. Common categories include Dislocated Worker, low-income Adult, and Youth (18–24). We can perform a free pre-screening and help you gather the required documents before you apply at CareerSource.
What types of career choices are best under this program?
You need to select a program that can be finished in a short period of time that will raise your marketability enough to help get you hired. We look at the best ways to take advantage of your experience to add a certification that will make you attractive to employers and easier to place.
Some career choices are perfect for this:
- Cybersecurity
- Information Technology
- Project Management
- Healthcare (CNA, Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy, etc.)
- Commercial Truck Driving (CDL)
- Skilled Trades & Apprenticeships
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Welding
- HVAC
And many more
Is there a catch or any hidden costs? I always have a hard time believing anything is free.
Working with any government-funded program involves paperwork and specific eligibility steps (income guidelines, residency, etc.). The process is thorough by design to ensure taxpayer funds are used responsibly. While it can take a little time and patience, thousands of people successfully use WIOA every year to change their lives with free training and certifications.
There is no catch — just an opportunity
If CareerSource determines you are eligible and approves funding, the approved school (ours or another provider) gets paid directly by the government. Your training, books, exams, and sometimes even laptops or exam vouchers are covered at no cost to you. Our only “agenda” is to help you get trained, certified, and placed in a better career as quickly and easily as possible.We’re here to be your guide.
Do you help with job placement?
Yes! The whole intent of this program is to help you get a job.
They assist with your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, interview preparation and most importantly, getting your information in front of hiring managers.
