State of Alaska > DOLWD > Business Partnerships

State Training and Employment Program (STEP)

The State Training and Employment Program (STEP) is administered by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development and funded by a small set-aside of Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund contributions. The primary purpose of the program is to reduce current and future claims against UI benefits through an investment in job training.

The program is aimed at fostering growth of existing businesses and attracting new businesses to the state through the development of a local skilled workforce and contained employer UI costs. STEP promotes local hire and may be used to mitigate the impacts of Alaska's economic fluctuations through training or retraining for new or emerging industries and technologies.

Employers and training vendors may apply for STEP job training grants to address the needs of a specific industry with a demand for skilled workers, or to serve the needs of a particular employer. The Division of Business Partnerships administers these grants. Requests for grant applications are posted on this website twice a year - Spring and Fall.

The target population for STEP is the adult worker who may be unemployed or underemployed, and who has worked in a job covered by Unemployment Insurance. Typically program participants are self-motivated, with realistic employment goals, and a good probability for success. The ultimate goal is completion in training and achievement in the workforce after training. Alaska residency is a program requirement.

Individuals may access STEP services through the Alaska Job Center Network at http://www.jobs.state.ak.us.

For more information please contact:
Christine Sanderford, STEP Program Manager
Division of Business Partnerships
christine.sanderford@alaska.gov
(907) 269-2002

Legal authority for the State Training and Employment Program
AS23.15.620-660
Alaska Administrative Code, Title 8 AAC 87.010 - 990