Pikes Peak Workforce Center offering $250,000 to help companies upskill employees The Pikes Peak Workforce Center is offering funds to help companies in El Paso and Teller counties train and upskill their employees. The regional workforce center has $250,000 in available Employee Development F unds to help local businesses and nonprofits strengthen their staff’s workforce expertise, the organization said in a Tuesday news release. The funds are available through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which supports employee training. “This program presents wonderful opportunities for companies in both El Paso and Teller counties. We hope a diverse array of businesses and nonprofits will apply for this funding, which is aimed at enhancing economic sustainability through employee training and skill development,” Pikes Peak Workforce Center spokeswoman Becca Tonn said in the release. Local employers can select training programs that meet their specific business and employee needs, the release said. Training programs are offered in a variety of sectors, including technical and industrial skills, health care, information technology and cybersecurity,  leadership and management, and innovation and quality assurance, for example. Employers who are interested in applying for these funds must attend a virtual “How to Apply” session. Register online and find more program information at ppwfc.org/funds-for-worker-training. Information sessions will be held on Jan. 13 from 2-3 p.m., Jan. 14 from 10-11 a.m. and Jan. 15 from 10-11 a.m. When selecting awardees, preference will be given to in-demand industries like health care, information technology, manufacturing, hospitality and tourism, and cybersecurity, as well as companies whose training leads to expansion of duties for employees, the release said. Applications are due by 8 p.m. Jan. 30. Funding awards will be announced Feb. 13, and training must be completed by May 22. ...read more read less