IRRRB Wage Enhancement Program

The Workforce Investment Board is pleased to announce a new program designed to assist businesses headquartered within the Taconite Assistance Area hire new full time employees. The program is funded through a $1 million grant from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board and will be administered through the Workforce Centers of Northeast Minnesota. Participating businesses will be reimbursed a wage subsidy that amounts to the lesser of $5 per hour or 50 percent of a new employee’s wage for up to 52 weeks or $10,000, whichever occurs first. As many as five employees can be hired through the program for any one business, for a total of up to $50,000.
Eligible businesses are those who do not have any employees on layoff or reduced hours, and plan to hire full-time permanent employees.

Click here to download the application.

IRRRB WAGE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM EXTENDED THROUGH JUNE 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: Program funds are now fully obligated and there is a waiting list for companies interested in wage subsidy. If current obligated funds are not expended, companies on the waiting list will be notified when/if funds become available. Please contact us for additional information.

The Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board Wage Enhancement Program has been approved for another year and extended to 52 weeks of reimbursement. Businesses eligible for the extension include both new applicants as well as those that have already participated, both previously and currently. This means that you can access an additional 26 weeks of reimbursement for employees who have already been or currently are on the program, for a total of up to $10,000 per employee!

The EXTENSION NOTICE (click here) will answer most of your questions, including:

· Who exactly is eligible for the extension,

· How to access the extension funds,

· Frequently asked questions, and

· Important changes to program guidelines/conditions.

An Extension Modification Request Form is required to access additional funds for previous or current wage subsidy-funded employees.

PLEASE READ THESE DOCUMENTS CLOSELY. We are relying on these to answer the most common questions and to help expedite the extension request process for you. Funds are only available on a first-come, first serve basis.

You can submit your application(s) to any of these offices:

Lake County

AEOA, Norden Industrial Park
2124 10th St.
Two Harbors, MN 55616
Fax: 218-834-5269
Dawn Horne, 218-834-2280, dawn.horne@aeoa.org

Cook County

AEOA at Cook County Schools
101 W. 5th Street, P.O. Box 331
Grand Marais, MN 55604
Fax: 218-387-1327
Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Dawn Byholm, 218-387-1134, dawn.byholm@aeoa.org

Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids Workforce Center
1215 SE 2nd Avenue
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Fax: 218-327-4179
Steve Walker, 218-327-6756, rsteven.walker@state.mn.us

Hibbing

Hibbing Workforce Center
3920 13th Avenue East
Hibbing, MN 55746
Fax: 218-262-7316
Bob Hocking, 218-262-6797, Bob.Hocking@aeoa.org

Virginia

Virginia Workforce Center
820 9th Street North
Virginia, MN 55792
Fax: 218-748-2240
Scott Thompson, 218-748-2278, scott.thompson@aeoa.org

Aitkin

Aitkin Workforce Center
321 Minnesota Avenue North
Aitkin, MN 56431
Fax: 218-927-5624
Kari Paulsen, 218-927-5623, kpaulsen@charterinternet.com