116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
‘Trailblazer’ shows how Eastern Iowa apprentice grant works
Welding, health care students may help meet worker demand
Nov. 16, 2024 5:30 am, Updated: Nov. 18, 2024 7:54 am
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CEDAR RAPIDS — Riggs Martin is the first student in Eastern Iowa to successfully complete an apprenticeship through the High School Registered Apprenticeship Program, which creates valuable career pathways for students while addressing workforce needs.
Martin, 18, has been apprenticing for over a year at IFP Motion Solutions in northeast Cedar Rapids, gaining on-the-job training in welding and manufacturing and earning nationally-recognized credentials while getting paid. Headquartered in Cedar Rapids, the company has locations in three other states and specializes in motion control components for manufacturers and others.
The day after he graduated in May from Alburnett High School, Martin began a full-time job at IFP Motion Solutions, a position he earned through his hard work, said IFP’s Bob Williams, who welcomed Martin to the company and mentored him throughout his apprenticeship.
“He reached a milestone here,” said Williams at a celebration ceremony this week for Martin at the company. “This achievement showcased his dedication, hard work and commitment to personal and professional growth. We were lucky to have such a fine young man come aboard. … You’re a trailblazer.”
The apprenticeship program is funded by a $1.2 million grant awarded to the Grant Wood Region Consortium in June 2022. The grant through the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund was designed to address workforce needs and impact workforce and economic development, said Molly Crock, a Future Ready curriculum consultant with Grant Wood Area Education Agency.
Grant Wood AEA provides educational services to schools and educators in seven Iowa counties.
The program also offers apprenticeship opportunities for students interested in the medical field. There currently are 24 students who are certified nursing assistant apprentices across 10 school districts and seven business partners. The welding program has six current apprentices from five school districts and three businesses partners.
The welding and health careers apprenticeships are designed to take two years with both part-time work during the school year and full-time work during the summer. The apprenticeship program is a community effort, with Kirkwood Community College and school districts providing education to students and business partners providing on-the-job training.
"These apprenticeship opportunities are more than an educational experience. They’re about laying the foundation for thriving, skilled careers," Crock said. "This collaborative model showcases how schools, colleges, businesses and the community can empower students and directly contribute to our local workforce."
Kristy Black, executive dean of K-12 partnerships at Kirkwood, said the region needs more employers like IFP Motion Solutions to “step up and lead the way for our high school students.”
“We know some of our students don’t always learn in the most traditional setting, and our schools are getting so much better about meeting students where they’re at and creating opportunities that will help connect them to their passion and future career,” Black said.
Martin said he knew he wanted to be a welder from a young age, inspired by his grandfather, also a welder. He sees himself working for IFP Motion Solutions “for a while.” But has dreams of opening his own shop someday specializing in farm equipment repairs, he said.
During Martin’s junior year of high school, he was in the Advanced Manufacturing and Welding Academy at the Linn County Regional Center through Kirkwood. That’s where he learned the “fundamentals,” said Williams.
Martin said he learned through “trial by fire” at IFP Motion Solutions.
“That’s the best way for me to learn,” Martin said. “I can’t learn from books. I can’t learn by someone telling me. A lot of it is looking at the blueprint and figuring it out. I try it, mess up and go back and fix my mistakes the hard way.”
IFP Motion Solutions has another apprentice working through the program now while also pursuing a welding degree from Kirkwood.
Whether it’s a certificate of completion — like Martin earned through his apprenticeship — or a two- or four-year degree, Williams said they are all “viable options” to a career.
Williams challenged other employers in the area to “take on this stuff for the young people.”
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