Would something like this work in your state?
The Street:
The Subsidized Training and Employment Program, known as STEP UP, was created during a special legislative session on jobs last October. It provides employers with six-month wage subsidies, up to $20 an hour, and training grants to small manufacturers  up to $12,500 over a six-month period. Businesses with 50 or fewer employees are eligible for the program.
Photo by Bart Everson