LIGHTR Business Application

You are applying for Training Funds through LIGHTR.

Looking to provide professional development and upskill your employees? Want to retain and grow quality talent?

LIGHTR is a collaboration training grant offered between the Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development and the City of Fort Collins Economic Health Office designed to help your small business acquire training and certifications for your employee(s). 

LIGHTR does not provide the training or certification.

Program Eligibility:
Your small business may be eligible for training assistance if your business meets the following criteria

• Has 2 to 50 employees
• Your business is in good standing with the state and is an LLC, LLP, or a Corporation
• Located within Larimer County
  
  • If your business is located within Fort Collins, it must be compliant with city sales tax.
  • If you are unsure if your business is compliant with the City of Fort Collins sales tax, please email business@fcgov.com. 
• Pays in to unemployment insurance for employees
• Provides workers' compensation for employees 

This program is intended to train local W-2 employees and cannot be used to fund training for seasonal workers,  business owners or self-employed individuals (e.g., sole proprietors without employees). The employees must be on payroll and covered by the business’s unemployment and workers' compensation insurance.

For acceptance, a complete application is required, detailing the specific training provider and the intended training.

Economic and Workforce Development is committed to providing accessibility for everyone. If you need assistance completing this form, reach out to Blake Dowling at lcewd-ada@larimer.org or via phone at 970.498.6041.

LIGHTR funding will cover up to $3,000 of the total training cost.

• Tuition
• Training Materials
• Certification/Licensure Costs
• LIGHTR funding is limited to the listed costs (tuition, training materials, certification/licensure costs). The program will not reimburse for equipment, employee wages, time spent in training, travel, lodging, or any per diem expenses.

Training funded by this program must meet the following criteria:

• May not exceed more than 12 months in duration
• Must lead to a form of measurable gain for the employee, the business, or both, which includes but is not limited to:
  
  • Increased employee wages, hours, etc. 
  • Employee Promotion
  • Employee earned industry-recognized certificate
  • Training filled a skill gap in the business
  • Training leads to increased business revenue, production, and/or capacity
  • Examples of qualifying training include, but are not limited to project management, software operation, leadership/management, ISO/AS9100 training, compliance and safety training, Six Sigma Green Belt Certification, supply chain management, Cyber/CMMC, bookkeeping, quality assurance, and customer service. 
• To be accepted, this application must include a specific training provider and the intended training.