Iowa Ag Connection - Schools, Groups Funded to Grow Registered Iowa Apprenticeship Programs

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Schools, Groups Funded to Grow Registered Iowa Apprenticeship Programs
Iowa Ag Connection - 09/21/2018

Eight schools and organizations will receive funding to grow Registered Apprenticeship programs in Iowa. Each will receive $10,000 to create or provide ongoing support of a Quality Pre-Apprenticeship Program.

- Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District, Waverly

- The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative Inc. (New BoCo), Cedar Rapids

- Plumbers and Steamfitters Local #33 Joint Apprenticeship Training Center, Des Moines

- Iowa Laborers' Education & Training Trust Fund, Des Moines

- Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo

- Dubuque Senior High School, Dubuque

- Dubuque Hempstead High School, Dubuque

- Cedar Rapids Community School District

Two schools were chosen to receive $15,000 each for High School Registered Apprenticeship Programs:

- West Delaware Community School, Manchester

- Pella Career Academy, Pella

"I'd like to congratulate these schools and organizations for their commitment to exposing more Iowans to Registered Apprenticeship opportunities," Gov. Kim Reynolds said. "This commitment to growing Iowa's skilled workforce in high demand jobs using the Registered Apprenticeship model is an important strategy to help us meet our Future Ready Iowa goal. It also helps keep the cost of higher education down, and students are able to earn money while training for a rewarding career."

"We are very excited to work with these schools and organizations to assist Iowa's efforts to expand its work-based learning opportunities for students," Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend said. "It is vital that we expose our high school students to different Registered Apprenticeship opportunities as we look to meet our Future Ready Iowa goal. Apprenticeships are a proven solution for training a skilled workforce, and we are committed to growing opportunities in healthcare and advanced manufacturing - areas in Iowa where we need more trained workers. I strongly encourage other schools and organizations to submit proposals to receive the remaining funds as we want to make sure we can award all of it here in Iowa."

Since all of the funds were not distributed during the initial request for proposal process, Iowa Workforce Development is inviting organizations to submit funding requests for these five areas: Quality Pre-Apprenticeship; High School Registered Apprenticeship; Healthcare Sector Registered Apprenticeship; Advanced Manufacturing Sector Registered Apprenticeship; and Pilot Quality Pre-Apprenticeship Program. The submission deadline is 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018. The guidelines for submitting a proposal are available online for the following programs:

Quality Pre-Apprenticeship Programs: Recognized Quality Pre-Apprenticeship Programs may apply for a $10,000 award to focus on career pathways to create or provide on-going support of a Quality Pre-Apprenticeship program. The funds can be used for creation of curriculum, supportive services, participant support costs, outreach and staff costs for developing and operating the program. Each Quality Pre-Apprenticeship program must have at least one Quality Pre-Apprentice or 10 percent of Quality Pre-Apprentices, whichever amount is greater, hired by a Registered Apprenticeship program by Oct. 31, 2020. Total funding available is $70,000.

High School Registered Apprenticeship Programs: High School Registered Apprenticeship Programs may apply for a $15,000 award. This award may be used to start or support a current High School Registered Apprenticeship Program. The funds can be used for Related Training Instruction, supportive services and a Registered Apprenticeship coordinator. Total funding available is $115,000.

Healthcare Sector Registered Apprenticeship Program: This funding is to be used to grow Registered Apprentices in the healthcare sector. This grant will be awarded to one or two respondents. Respondents may apply for a full award of $150,000 to grow at least 200 Registered Apprentices and will receive extra points for submitting a full award. Respondents may apply for a partial award of $75,000 to grow at least 100 Registered Apprentices. The funds can be used for Related Training Instruction, supportive services, stipends to apprentices or sponsors to incentivize retention, a Registered Apprenticeship coordinator and travel. Total funding available is $150,000.

Advanced Manufacturing Registered Sector Apprenticeship Program: This funding is to be used to grow Registered Apprentices in the advanced manufacturing sector. This grant will be awarded to one or two respondents. Respondents may apply for a full award of $150,000 to grow at least 200 Registered Apprentices and will receive extra points for submitting a full award. Respondents may apply for a partial award of $75,000 to grow at least 100 Registered Apprentices. The funds can be used for Related Training Instruction, supportive services, stipends to apprentices or sponsors to incentivize retention, a Registered Apprenticeship coordinator and travel. Total funding available is $150,000.

Pilot Quality Pre-Apprenticeship Program: This funding will be used to provide a pipeline of pre-apprentices to Registered Apprenticeship Programs with a focus on underrepresented populations. The funds can be used for creation of curriculum, supportive services, participant support costs, outreach and staff costs for developing and operating the program. This grant will be awarded to one or two respondents. Respondents may apply for a full award of $125,000 to grow at least 200 Registered Apprentices and will receive extra points for submitting a full award. Respondents may apply for a partial award of $62,500 to grow at least 100 Registered Apprentices. Total funding available is $125,000.

Iowa Workforce Development was recently awarded an additional $1 million ApprenticeshipUSA State Expansion Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to strengthen and grow Registered Apprenticeship opportunities in Iowa. The grant is focused on expanding opportunities in healthcare and advanced manufacturing, the fastest growing and largest employment sectors in the state, as well as increasing the participation of women, youth, minorities, veterans and people with disabilities.

Registered Apprenticeship Programs help recruit, train a skilled workforce and retain talent. There are currently more than 1,000 apprenticeable occupations in industries that include energy, information technology, healthcare, financial services, transportation, advanced manufacturing, food and beverage preparation and the building trades. Growing Registered Apprenticeship opportunities is an important strategy to help Iowa reach its Future Ready Iowa goal of having 70 percent of its workforce with education or training beyond high school by 2025.

Iowa employers and job seekers can explore Registered Apprenticeship opportunities at earnandlearniowa.gov. The website helps employers understand how a Registered Apprenticeship Program works, the value it brings to their business, the resources available to help them set up a program and has a form to complete to receive more information.

Job seekers who are interested in exploring Registered Apprenticeship opportunities are encouraged to visit the website and fill out an online form to connect them to a local IowaWORKS Center. In addition, IowaWORKS Center staff can help with resume preparation, cover letter assistance and mock interviews.

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