Training Grants for Small Businesses Through Strategic HR Partnerships
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Last week, we kicked off our May blog series focusing on helping employees bloom by rethinking how we approach performance conversations. Because growth doesn’t happen once a year, it happens through consistent feedback, clear expectations, and ongoing support. But once you’ve created that foundation, the next question becomes: How do you actually support that growth?
For many small businesses, the answer feels limited by budget. Training and development often fall into the “we’d love to, but we can’t afford it” category. The reality? That’s not always true. In fact, many organizations are leaving valuable funding on the table simply because they don’t know it exists, or how to access it.
Did you know that in North Carolina, funding already exists to help cover workforce training costs? And for small businesses in NC, the challenge isn’t availability; it’s awareness and strategy. And that’s where a strong HR business partnership changes everything.
In my role as an HR Business Partner as well as time spent on the Board of Directors for my local SHRM affiliated HR Association, I have had the wonderful opportunity to connect with many of our local business and organizational leaders to obtain information about upcoming and ongoing funding availability. What makes me sad with these relationships is the number of funds that go unused due to lack of knowledge and understanding of what’s available.
The Hidden Opportunity Training Grants You’re Probably Not Using
Many small businesses and local employers don’t realize they may qualify for:
Workforce development grants
Incumbent worker training reimbursements
Apprenticeship training funds
On-the-job training wage offsets
Community college customized training programs
These aren’t loans. They’re real dollars designed to strengthen local employers through partnerships with other local agencies in the area.
Programs available in North Carolina include:
NCWorks – Connects businesses to Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) training funds and local workforce boards.
North Carolina Department of Commerce – Offers work-based learning and Job Ready workforce grants.
North Carolina Community College System – Provides customized training through NCEdge at little to no cost to employers.
ApprenticeshipNC – Supports registered apprenticeships and related instruction grants.
But grants don’t integrate themselves into your workforce strategy. HR must lead that integration.
For most small businesses who have never been through the process before, it can feel intimidating when you see the documentation that is required to apply for these funding opportunities. Essentially, the narrative must be established that re-iterates where the business is suffering from the lack of training and how the business/employees can benefit from the materials/information learned by the employees who complete the training. Sometimes, that is extremely hard to quantify in the written format provided.
Here’s why your HR Business Partnerships Are the Key
I’ve said it many times, traditional or transactional HR reacts to needs while strategic HR anticipates those needs and secures solutions to get them filled.
A Strategic HR partner can help a small business with longer term solutions because they identify skill gaps tied to business growth, align training needs with available funding, build workforce development into annual planning, coordinate documentation and compliance requirements, and ultimately measure the ROI with more evidence/results beyond just indicating that “training was completed.”
Without HR leadership, grant opportunities become one-off transactions instead of talent strategy multipliers.
By now, you are probably saying, “I’m in, but how?!” Here are 5 ways small businesses can incorporate grants into their HR strategy.
Conduct a Skill Gap Assessment First. Remember, grants should support the business objectives, so before applying for funding, HR should evaluate:
· What skills are limiting growth?
· Which roles are hardest to fill?
· Where is turnover highest?
Build Relationships with Local Workforce Boards. Most grants are administered locally and proactive relationships unlock opportunities. HR should:
· Establish contact at the local NCWorks Career Center, within the local Community College, and their local Economic Development Committee or Workforce Board.
· Meet with workforce board representatives at least semi-annually to annually to stay on top of what is offered, the timeframes, and timelines for each opportunity. Use this time to ask what funding is currently underutilized because that does happen, and if you can target those funds, there is a greater chance of getting what you request.
Incorporate Grants into your annual Workforce Planning and Training Budget. When budgeting for next year, instead of asking, “Can we afford training?” Ask, “What funding can offset this investment?” Strategically Smart HR Business Partners treat grants as part of the financial strategy.
Use Grants to Support Retention. Training grants are not just for new hires. They can fund leadership development for high potentials, upskill your frontline employees, cross-training to reduce burnout, and credential programs that increase career mobility. When employees see investment in their growth, turnover often declines, especially important in fast-growth environments.
· Track ROI and Communicate the Wins. HR should report cost savings from grant reimbursements, internal promotions supported by the completed training, reduced hiring costs from turnover reductions and/or training completed through the grant, as well as improved productivity. When your business sees tangible results, workforce development becomes a priority, not an expense.
What This Looks Like in Practice
As I mentioned earlier, this is a strategy that I have incorporated into my clients who fit the criteria. I have one client, who is a 40-employee manufacturing organization, and we just obtained approval for a second grant for a “Leading for Leads” session. This will be phase two of a three phase project. In 2023, Local Customized Training Grant money through Mitchell Community College was used to fund a portion of the Leading for Leads Session 1. The company received approximately $1,500.00 in training funds for customized training. The second grant, just awarded, is through the Centralina Incumbent Workforce Development Grant and it will be covering up to $9,900.00 towards completion of the remaining programs. The only stipulation is that we have to get it all completed within the year, i.e. (next 12 months).
This company has successfully offset over $10,000 in training costs while increasing the internal capability of their team. In this manner, your organization can view HR, not just as the compliance function within your team, but as a growth architect and an overall true business partner.
By aligning your HR Business Partner with your small business team, you can strategically leverage available grants to support your workforce, without carrying the full financial burden alone. The result? A stronger position to compete for talent, develop internal pipelines, increase retention, and contribute to economic growth within your community.
And as part of our focus this month on helping employees bloom, this is where growth really takes shape. Clear expectations and feedback are the foundation, but development is what allows employees to build on that foundation and thrive.
If you take away just one thing from this blog, let it be this: Training isn’t a luxury, it’s a growth strategy. And small businesses that embrace grant-funded training through proactive HR partnerships are better positioned to scale sustainably, even in today’s competitive labor market.
HERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS WE GET ASKED ABOUT GRANTS:
What are training grants for small businesses?
Training grants for small businesses help employers offset costs related to employee development, workforce training, and leadership programs.
How can small businesses apply for workforce training grants?
Businesses can work with organizations like NCWorks, community colleges, and workforce boards to identify available funding opportunities and application requirements.
Can HR consultants help with training grant programs?
Yes, strategic HR partners often help businesses identify skill gaps, connect with workforce programs, and manage grant documentation and compliance.
What training programs qualify for workforce grants?
Programs may include leadership development, technical training, apprenticeships, onboarding, and upskilling initiatives tied to workforce development goals.
