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WIOA, SNAP E&T and the governor—s program: How West Virginia pays for apprenticeships
Summary
State and federal representatives described how WIOA supportive services, SNAP Employment & Training reimbursements and the Governor—s Guaranteed Workforce Program can reduce employer costs for apprenticeships; resources and local contacts were shared. Transcript included an inconsistent figure for the governor—s program (see audit).
Jonathan Compton, assistant director of workforce development at Workforce West Virginia, and Ashley Puffenbarger, senior program manager for SNAP Employment & Training at the West Virginia Department of Human Services, outlined funding options employers and training providers can use to launch or sustain apprenticeship programs.
Compton said WIOA funding flows to seven local workforce development boards across the state and highlighted supportive services that remove barriers to employment (childcare, transportation), wage-subsidy opportunities for small employers and a federal bonding program to ease hiring of formerly incarcerated people. "Helping with supportive services is where WIOA really shines," he said.
Ashley Puffenbarger described SNAP E&T as a flexible reimbursement tool that can act as a third-party provider or reimburse employers for allowable training expenses. "If you are a third-party provider with SNAP E&T, allowable expenses can be reimbursed 50%," Puffenbarger said, adding that SNAP E&T can reimburse participants for tools, uniforms or testing fees required to enter an apprenticeship.
Nick Nunnery (West Virginia Division of Economic Development) summarized the Governor—s Guaranteed Workforce Program as a state training fund used with partners to offset employer costs and cited a commonly used employer-facing grant amount. The transcript contains inconsistent numeric references: Nunnery initially described the governor—s program as offering funds up to $2,000 per individual; later in the session a larger figure was mentioned but not clarified. The precise maximum available in a given case should be verified with the program office.
Where to start: Compton pointed attendees to workforcewestvirginia.org for local offices and workforce board contact information; Puffenbarger said prospective SNAP E&T providers should contact a Department of Human Services office to be routed to state staff who will review a high-level proposal and draft budget.
Why it matters: Panelists said blending WIOA, SNAP E&T and state funds can substantially lower employers—s training costs, increase apprenticeship access for low-income participants and help small employers adopt formal apprenticeship structures.
