Explaining Subsidies and Tax Credits
How organizations communicate and clarify opportunities for employers to access subsidies and tax credits.
Business Career Services Illinois
- The BCS team explains the Workforce Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and other subsidies, often involving subject matter experts from partner agencies like the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).
- The team clarifies the differences between financial incentives like tax credits and direct funding.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Deb Lawrence in 2024. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Cara Collective
- Cara presents financial incentives such as tax credits and wage reimbursements as tools to offset hiring costs.
- Employers are informed about opportunities like On-the-Job Training (OJT) and incumbent worker training subsidies during introductory conversations.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Tim Loeffler in 2025. This content was approved by the organization in March 2025.
City Colleges of Chicago
- Olive-Harvey College provides many partnership opportunities for employers. However, they do not deliver all workforce development services directly. When employers are interested in accessing subsidies and tax credits, they are referred to organizations within the workforce ecosystem that can provide direct support and access to funding opportunities.
- For example, click here to view a flyer for Good Jobs Chicagoland, a collaborative initiative among employers, community organizations, and the City Colleges of Chicago.
This content is based on interviews and/or email correspondence with Joachim Borha in 2024 and 2025. This content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Services
- Staff lack expertise to discuss incentives like tax credits. No current practices are in place for presenting this information.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Lisa Hampton, Chadra Lang, and Mark Sanders in 2024. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development
- Employers are informed about the reimbursement structure of grants during initial interactions.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Lijia Evariz in 2024. This content was approved by the organization in March 2025.
Cook County Bureau of Economic Development
- Subsidies and tax credits are presented as tools to offset talent acquisition costs, with programs like On-the-Job Training (OJT) offering wage reimbursements and Incumbent Worker Training covering upskilling expenses.
- Employers are introduced to financial incentives such as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) for veterans and reentry populations, the Federal Bonding Program, and Enterprise Zone Job Tax Credits for economically disadvantaged hires.
- Concise, two-page overviews from Illinois WorkNet provide employers with clear details on training reimbursements and federal/state tax credits, including benefits for opportunity zones and specific target groups.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Michael Thompson in 2024. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Corporate Coalition
- Tax credits and subsidies are typically discussed with small businesses, particularly those in the Small Business Advisory Council, while large employers show less interest in these incentives.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Steph Dolan in 2025. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Harper College
- Harper College introduces tax credits and grant funding as part of employer discussions when cost concerns arise.
- Tax credits and funding opportunities are presented during employer meetings, typically through verbal explanations and follow-up materials.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Besa Sadiku in 2024. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Illinois Division of Rehabilitative Services
- Information about the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and on-the-job training (OJT) subsidies is provided to employers. OJT programs are managed internally, covering initial salary costs to support employer engagement.
- Employers are routed to appropriate contacts at the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), which provides support for accessing tax credits such as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and other employment-related incentives.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Biswa Phuyal in 2025. This content was approved by the organization in March 2025.
National Able Network
National Able provides employers with a Business Solutions flyer detailing various subsidies and tax credits that employers may be eligible for.
This content is based on interviews and/or email correspondence with Matt Weiss in 2024 and 2025. This content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Northern Illinois University Workforce Policy Lab
- Specialists distribute brochures outlining apprenticeship-related tax credits and funding opportunities.
- Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) are shared with employers when applicable.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Jennifer Foil in 2025. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Pyramid Partnership Inc
- Information about available subsidies and tax credits, such as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), is shared during initial conversations with employers.
- Staff provide detailed explanations of eligibility criteria and application processes for these incentives.
- Follow-up resources, including brochures and links to application guides, are provided to employers for convenience.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Kelly Brown in 2024. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
RiseKit
A component of RiseKit’s overall outreach strategy includes an email campaign that targets financial professionals at employer organizations and provides information about tax credits and subsidies that are available for employers.
Points of alignment
This section provides an overview of practices that are similar across organizations.
Point #1
During initial meetings, employer-facing staff typically provide employers with details about the eligibility criteria as well as the application processes for accessing subsidies and tax credits.
Point #2
Some organizations work directly with employers to access funding opportunities, while others refer employers to other organizations within the workforce ecosystem.
Point #3
Many organizations equip employers with resources, such as brochures and links to relevant websites, to help them explore available opportunities and offerings at the state and federal levels.
