CANTON -- St. Lawrence County companies might qualify to take advantage of $167,000 in employee training funds.

The reimbursement program, supported by Tribal-State Compact funds, is designed to help offset company training costs as a new employee develops proficiency during the initial stages of employment, or as an existing employee adapts to new processes and technologies.

Of the total, $20,000 of the allocation has been set aside specifically for the agriculture industry, to assist in training new workers and for other training in support of new techniques and technologies, or agricultural, production or product-marketing initiatives.

The St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators voted Jan. 3 to allocate the funds to the county IDA Local Development Corporation, which is partnering with the county Workforce Investment Board and the Workforce Development Institute to promote awareness of the funding and to make training agreements with local employers.

The Local Development Corporation is encouraging companies to take advantage of the program.

To learn more about requirements, companies can visit the St. Lawrence County IDA Local Development Corporation website at www.slcida.com or call the office at 379-9806.