HispanicBusiness

Get paid to hire or train employees.

Palm Beach County's employment agency Workforce Alliance is offering $6.3 million in grants to help local companies train and retain workers, the agency said Monday. That's up from $2.5 million in training incentives in 2011.

Companies can use the grant money to upgrade employees' skills, with the intent of advancing their wages and positions. Employers must be in operation for one year, have at least one full-time employee, and a "bricks and mortar" location.

Employers also can get reimbursed about 50 percent of wages for hiring, training and retraining new employees.

Individual training for job seekers to attend local colleges and training providers also is available.

Businesses interested in applying for training grants should contact Katherine Bonner at 561-340-1060, ext. 2344, or send an email to kbonner@pbcalliance.com.

Individuals interested in training scholarships should contact any of the career centers in Palm Beach County. Center locations are available at www.pbcalliance.com.

Broward's Workforce One also has federal funding for training and has about$5 million left from its original allocation of $9.2 million in July, said Mason Jackson, president. For more information, contact www.wf1broward.com.