Iowa Workforce Development awards $3.6 million for apprenticeships

Meagan Steger uses a rollstock machine to package cuts of meat at Edgewood Locker in May 2020. The locker provides custom slaughter of beef and hogs as well as venison processing during deer hunting season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa Workforce Development awarded more than $3.6 million across a spectrum of 88 businesses statewide — from veterinary services and plumbers to utilities and the Iowa Department of Corrections — to create or expand apprenticeships.

Funding is through the Iowa Apprenticeship Act, or 15B, and the Iowa Registered Apprenticeship Development Fund, or 15C, the IWD said in a news release Wednesday.

Fifty-seven Iowa recipients will see 15B apprenticeship funding this year, while 31 recipients will receive 15C funding the state said.

The 15B funding is to support training or ongoing costs within any active Iowa Registered Apprenticeship program, while 15C is for those programs that have created or expanded with a new program in a high-demand occupation, according to IWD.

This year’s funding is estimated to support approximately 5,957 apprentices across Iowa at for-profit and not-for-profits organizations, government departments, schools and unions.

Among those operating in the Corridor that will receive 15B or 15C funding:

Advanced Center for Electrolysis/Laser Hair Removal Specialist — $499.07 for one apprentice
Alliant Energy — $65,377.69 for 131 apprentices
Area Substance Abuse Council — $25,000 for 12 apprentices
Cedar Rapids Electrical — $74,360.89 for 149 apprentices
Cedar Rapids Sheet Metal — $39,925.31 for 80 apprentices
Edgewood Locker — $499.07 for one apprentice
Family Pet Veterinary Centers — $499.07 for one apprentice
Five Rivers Carpenters — $50,904.77 for 102 apprentices
Iowa Association of Municipal Employees — $73,362.76 for 147 apprentices
Iowa Department of Corrections — $169,183.50 for 339 apprentices
Kading Properties — $4,093 for two apprentices
Kirkwood Community College — $5,489.73 for 11 apprentices
Local 125 JATC — $83,843.15 for 168 apprentices
Metro Pavers — $18,165 for one apprentice
MidAmerican Energy — $123,269.39 for 247 apprentices
Nelson's Plumbing and Heating — $25,000 for one apprentice
Northeast Iowa Ironworkers — $3,992.53 for eight apprentices
Plumbers and Pipefitters of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois — $40,923.44 for 82 apprentices
UnityPoint — $105,802.07 for 212 apprentices.

The complete 15B and 15C lists can be seen at https://bit.ly/3nYBCQC and https://bit.ly/3P7NThR.

“Registered Apprenticeship programs continue to be one of the most successful tools we have in today’s workforce, with opportunities in nearly every occupation you can imagine,” Beth Townsend, IWD director, said in the release.

“We are committed to expanding and supporting these programs that are already creating long-term pipelines for Iowa.”