Custom Fit runs out of funding

For the first time since COVID, Custom Fit funds for San Juan County were exhausted before the end of the fiscal year.
While businesses in hope of training support were unable to receive training reimbursement, exhausting the Custom Fit funding is a big win for the Southeastern Utah Custom Fit office. Our local Custom Fit office hasn’t been able to spend their total grant funds since the COVID shutdowns and exhaustion of funds represents more education for the local workforce.
Spending all of the grant funds means that more business owners were able to take advantage of the program and more employees were able to receive training certifications. In addition, spending the total funding amount helps the Southeastern Utah Custom Fit office make a case for additional funding in the future.
Custom Fit is a state-run grant program that helps for-profit businesses access training for their employees. The grant reimburses businesses up to 50% of training costs as well as helps facilitate training programs and courses taught locally. This expands businesses ability to provide employee training, certifications, and skill improvement.
The Custom Fit fiscal year varies from the standard calendar year most of us are used to. Custom Fit runs on a July - June year. This means grant money is awarded in July instead of January. It also means that training reimbursement opportunities will re-open with the renewal of their grant on July 1, 2026.
This grant program is largely under utilized in San Juan County with San Juan County business owners claiming less than 15% of the funding pool it shares with Carbon, Grand, and Emery counties.
Despite the small funding percentage San Juan County businesses claimed, this is a large improvement over last fiscal year. This fiscal year, San Juan County business owners used 57% more funding than the previous year with a total of $20,388 being awarded to local businesses.
The Southeastern Utah Custom Fit office has a goal of awarding $40,000 in training reimbursement funds to San Juan County businesses in their next fiscal year (July 2026 - June 2027).
If you are the owner of a for profit business in San Juan County, submit your training reimbursement requests now. You want to get your training in the Custom Fit calendar as soon as possible so money can be reserved for your company training.
If you are an employee of a for profit business in San Juan County, look around and see what training can support the company you work for. What training do you need to feel more equipped in your role?
Custom Fit has been a part of Utah’s economic development landscape for over 40 years. In San Juan County Custom Fit will pay up to 50% of business training costs instead of the typical 40% the majority of the state sees.
Custom Fit pays businesses upon the completion of qualified training courses. There are four general guidelines to qualify a training for Custom Fit reimbursement:
• The training must have a solid start and stop date.
• The training must have a certificate of some kind after completion.
• The training must cost more than $100 per employee.
• The training cannot be 1:1 coaching or advising.
Custom Fit grant funds can be used towards employee training or business owner training. A sole proprietor business can apply for the grant as long as they are registered with the state of Utah.
Custom Fit exists to help provide continuing education to Utah citizens encouraging them to keep learning and improving their skills. Custom Fit’s mission is to support workforce development and enhance Utah’s economic vitality.
While helping employees and businesses continue education and gain more skills, Custom Fit is also tracking how their program helps with the retention of existing companies, the opening of new companies, and the growth of the companies they work with.
The Custom Fit office for Carbon, Emery, Grand, and San Juan counties is housed within Utah State University with an office in Price and an office in Blanding. To take advantage of this education grant program businesses can apply through the Southeast Utah Custom Fit website: statewide.usu.edu/custom-fit or by emailing customfitblanding@usu.edu.
Custom Fit funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year are scheduled to be available July 1, 2026. Applications are being accepted now.