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The purpose of the Future Ready Iowa Expanded Registered Apprenticeship Program (84F) is to provide financial assistance to encourage apprenticeship sponsors of new apprenticeship programs or expansion programs, with 20 or fewer apprentices to maintain apprenticeship programs in high-demand occupations.
State Department
Iowa Workforce Development
Funding
The state of Iowa has appropriated $3 million.
Deadlines
Grant applications are due by February 2, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Central Time.
Other Information
N/A
The purpose of the Iowa Apprenticeship Act (84E) grant is to provide financial assistance to sponsors of federally recognized Registered Apprenticeship programs. Funds awarded may only be used to reimburse for costs associated with conducting and maintaining a Registered Apprenticeship program.
State Department
Iowa Workforce Development
Funding
The State of Iowa has appropriated $760,000 to support the growth of registered apprenticeship programs in high-demand occupations.
Applicants are eligible to receive up to $25,000 per application for each eligible occupation. Applicants can apply for more than one grant if they have multiple eligible occupations within their registered apprenticeship program; grant awards for applicants receiving more than one grant in the same calendar year will be capped at $50,000.
Deadlines
Grant applications are due by February 2, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Central Time.
Other Information
N/A
The intent of this program is to provide high school students and youth between the ages of 14 and 24 internship opportunities that allow youth to explore and prepare for high-demand careers, gain work experience, and develop personal attributes necessary to succeed in the workplace.
State Department
Iowa Workforce Development
Funding
Maximum funding for awards will be $60,000.
Deadlines
Grant applications are due by February 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Central Time.
Other Information
N/A
There are more than 1,000 occupations eligible for apprenticeship training grants, from accounting specialists to nurses. Registered Apprenticeships are a proven approach to preparing workers for in-demand jobs and meeting the needs of business for a highly skilled workforce that can innovate and adapt. Iowa is committed to supporting Registered Apprenticeship Programs and increasing the number of registered apprentices in Iowa by providing training grants through the Iowa Apprenticeship Act (15B) and the Iowa Registered Apprenticeship Development Fund (15C).
State Department
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Funding
Once awarded, recipients provide details of expenses related to the Apprenticeship Program and will be reimbursed for expenses up to the grant amount.
Deadlines
Rolling
Other Information
N/A
The Accelerated Career Education (ACE) program is designed to provide businesses with an enhanced, skilled workforce. ACE assists Iowa’s community colleges to either establish or expand programs that train individuals in the occupations most needed by Iowa businesses. Businesses enter into an agreement with a community college to sponsor a portion or all of the positions created by establishing a new or expanding a current educational program. By sponsoring the educational program, a company agrees to consider the student for employment upon completion of the respective training. Businesses must assist with program design and provide a 20% match of the program costs, pro-rated by the percentage of positions sponsored. Businesses that enter into an agreement with a community college offset the costs of the program through tax benefits.
State Department
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Funding
Contingent upon the number of program job credits a company accrues and are awarded based upon the number of seats they sponsor. Can be up to 10% of the hiring wage.
Deadlines
Rolling
Other Information
N/A
The Iowa Industrial New Jobs Training (260E) program assists businesses creating new positions with new employee training. Eligible businesses may be new to Iowa, expanding the Iowa workforce or relocating to the state. Administered by Iowa’s 15 community colleges and financed through bonds sold by the colleges. Training is available at essentially no cost since bonds are retired with dollars that otherwise would have been paid to the state as withholding taxes. May be eligible for a corporate new jobs tax credit if the company’s existing Iowa employee base is increased by at least 10%.
State Department
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Funding
Depending upon the number of new jobs pledged and the starting wages for the new jobs, an award amount is calculated, and a training plan developed.
Deadlines
Rolling
Other Information
N/A
The Iowa Jobs Training Program (260F) provides job training services to current employees of eligible businesses. Helps companies train current employees with new skills. Eligible businesses work with the local community college, which will assess training needs, determine funds available and provide training. Valuable employee training for little to no cost. Application is made through a local community college.
State Department
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Funding
N/A
Deadlines
Rolling
Other Information
N/A
The Community College Consortium (260F) program provides funding assistance for community college-sponsored employee training projects in which two or more businesses participate. Iowa’s 15 community colleges work with eligible businesses to assess training needs, determine funds needed and provide training. Valuable employee training at little to no cost. Participating businesses must be located within the same community college district. Businesses must participate in the same training project. Application must be made through a local community college.
State Department
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Funding
N/A
Deadlines
Rolling
Other Information
N/A
The Economic Development Set Aside (EDSA) program provides financial assistance to businesses and industries requiring assistance to create or retain job opportunities in Iowa. EDSA develops viable communities that provide economic opportunities for people, especially those with low- and moderate incomes. Priority is given to projects that create manufacturing jobs, add value to Iowa resources and/or increase exports. Preference is given to businesses that create or retain the greatest number of jobs with the least amount of program dollars. Projects must demonstrate a need for assistance. The only three valid criteria to determine need are: a financing gap, insufficient return on investment or locational disadvantage.
State Department
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Funding
Maximum award is $1 million.
Deadlines
Rolling
Other Information
N/A
The High Quality Jobs (HQJ) program provides qualifying businesses assistance to off-set some of the costs incurred to locate, expand or modernize an Iowa facility. This flexible program includes loans, forgivable loans, tax credits, exemptions and/or refunds. The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) offers this program to promote growth in businesses, which employ Iowans in jobs defined as high-quality by state statute.
State Department
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Funding
The actual award amounts based on the level of need; quality of the jobs; percentage of created or retained jobs defined as high-quality; and the project’s economic impact. Local property tax exemption of up to 100% of the value added to the property to a period not to exceed 20 years may be available.
Deadlines
Rolling
Other Information
N/A
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a Federal tax credit available to employers for hiring individuals from certain targeted groups who have consistently faced significant barriers to employment.
State Department
Iowa Workforce Development
Funding
Tax Credit
Deadlines
N/A
Other Information
N/A
This one-time, corporate income tax credit is available to participants in the New Jobs Training (260E) Program. Iowa offers this credit as an incentive for businesses that provide additional training to employees and expand their workforce. Maximum tax credit in 2019 is $1,836 per new employee. Tax credit amount depends upon wages paid and the year in which the tax credit is first claimed. Unused tax credits may be carried forward for up to 10 years.
State Department
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Funding
Tax Credit
Deadlines
N/A
Other Information
Eligible employers must be entered into a New Jobs Training (260E) agreement and must commit to expanding their IA employment base by 10% or more.
The Targeted Jobs Withholding Tax Credit is a pilot program that allows diversion of withholding funds paid by an employer to be matched by a designated pilot city to create economic incentives directed toward the growth and expansion of targeted businesses locally. Match is required for every withholding dollar received. This match can be provided by a private donor, the pilot city, the employer, or a combination of all three; and can be in cash or in-kind contributions.
State Department
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Funding
Tax Credit
Deadlines
N/A
Other Information
Must be located in Burlington, Council Bluffs, Fort Madison, Keokuk or Sioux City. Must be relocating to Iowa from another state and creating jobs at or above the hourly wage threshold for the city or be an existing Iowa business creating or retaining 10 new jobs at or above the hourly wage threshold for the city, or be an existing Iowa business making a qualifying investment of $500,000 within a pilot city.
The information on this page was put together by PMA’s workforce development team and PMA’s lobbying team in Washington, D.C.
If you have any questions about funds for training, contact PMA’s workforce development team at [email protected].
If you don’t see your question listed, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to help!
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