R357-24-105. Eligibility Criteria

  (1) Proposal must be jointly developed by a company and a post-secondary institution.

  (2) Applicants must submit proposals as outlined in section 106 below, and otherwise specified in TRU.

  (3) A company representative must certify that:

  (a) the company has a skilled labor gap;

  (b) the proposed post-secondary institution partnership will meet that gap need;

  (c) the company has significant one time or ongoing hiring demands; and

  (d) the company commits to provide a cost-share contribution as outlined in subsection (5) below.

  (4) The company must have a substantial presence in Utah.

  (a) A substantial presence, for purposes of UWP requires the following:

  (i) the company must be properly registered with the Utah Division of Corporations as an active, for-profit business entity, in good standing; and

  (ii) the company must be properly licensed in the appropriate city or county.

  (b) Additionally, TRU shall, according to its judgment and discretion, determine whether a company has a substantial presence for purposes of a UWP grant by weighing the following factors:

  (i) total workforce and percentage of company's workforce in Utah;

  (ii) amount of business taxes paid to the State of Utah;

  (iii) relative size of the company;

  (iv) whether the company's principal place of business is Utah;

  (v) likelihood that the company will maintain a significant presence in the state of Utah;

  (vi) a commitment of capital expenditure and/or new job creation in the state; and

  (vii) the degree to which the company's activities and operations positively impact Utah's economy.

  (5) The company must fulfill the following cost-sharing requirements:

  (a) provide a company representative to support the collaboration;

  (b) provide an "in-kind" contribution, approved by TRU, which may include:

  (i) company representative's time spent on the collaboration;

  (ii) materials and equipment;

  (iii) work/research space;

  (iv) travel and other company expenses budgeted for the collaboration; or

  (v) other contributions approved by TRU.

  (c) make available for audit all reported cost-share activities.

  (6) Applicants may coordinate with the Department of Workforce Services when building pre-hire program objectives.