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ALLENTOWN ENTERPRISE ZONE

PURPOSE OF THE FUND  The purpose of the Allentown Enterprise Zone Employee Development Scholarship (AEZEDS) is to provide manufacturing and industrial businesses that are located in the Allentown Enterprise Zone with easy-to-apply-for funds to improve the skills of their employees. By improving the skills of Zone employees, the businesses will benefit from increased productivity, the community will benefit from more productive and higher paid residents and the employees will benefit from greater knowledge, skills and higher wages.

AMOUNTS  $500 (up to 50% of the training costs) per company per year.  The company applies for funds and will be reimbursed for training upon satisfactory completion of the course by the employee.  Satisfactory completion will be verivied via letter or attendance confirmation from the training provider.

ELIGIBLE USES   Training of employees (not business owners), employed for at least one year with the company, who are eligible for promotion within that company. Training providers must be approved by the Private Industry Council.   If a proposed class is not on the list, AEDC reserves the right to investigate the providers certifcations and credentials before approving funding.  The following types of training are eligible:

Basic/General skills training for entry level employees that are being promoted;

Supervision/Management skills for production line or technical employees being promoted;

Technical skills for production supervisory employees who are adapting a new technology or innovative process in their company.

TERMS   The educational program must be approved by the Training Committee of the Industrial Enterprise Council (WorkKeys program and Supervisory Skills Training program of LCCC are already approved uses).

Applications will be reviewed and approved by AEDC on an on-going basis.

Awards will generally be made along a first come, first served basis, with the following factors assisting AEDC in making awards:

· Evidence that employee salary/wages may be increased as a result of the training;

· Evidence that the employee resides in the Enterprise Zone or City of Allentown;

· Evidence that the company is growing by planning new additions to staff;

· All recipients must be current on all state, county, school district and city taxes.

· Availability of funds

All companies must remain in the City of allentown for at least two years following scholarship receipt or will be required to refund the Allentown Enterprise Zone Employee Development Scholarship Fund.  Applicants will be notified in writing by AEDC regarding their approval or rejection.  The employer is responsible for ensuring that the employee satisfactorily completes the approved courses and for providing AEDC with confirmation of the successful completion via a copy of a letter from the trainer.