Et cetera : Hawkeye Community College Receives Grant to Support Skilled Workforce Training

$262,326.16 Awarded by State of Iowa for Registered Apprenticeship Programs

Hawkeye Community College has been awarded $262,326 from the State of Iowa to support registered apprenticeship programs.

Grant funds will be managed through the Iowa Office of Apprenticeship (IOA). Housed within Iowa Workforce Development, the IOA is responsible for administering and supporting all Registered Apprenticeship programs in the state. In 2024, Iowa officially became a State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA), granting IOA the formal oversight and authority to better support existing programs and establish innovative ways to expand their development across the state.

"I applaud the program sponsors receiving grant funds today who are committed to preparing the workers of tomorrow using the Registered Apprenticeship model," said Governor Kim Reynolds. "Registered Apprenticeship programs play a critical role in our overall workforce strategy. As we demonstrated in the Teacher-Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship program, using a tried and true model in a nontraditional field is a win-win for Iowans and employers, and I am pleased to see a number of our schools receive funding under this program."

Hawkeye's award is part of a combined $2.94 million in grants awarded through the Iowa Apprenticeship Act (84E) to 59 sponsors that support 5,133 participating apprentices.

"Iowa made an investment to provide financial support to grow Registered Apprenticeship programs when these programs were created over 10 years ago," said Beth Townsend, Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development. "Today, we continue to see the return on that investment with increases in the number of apprentices and programs across the state as well as the expansion of this training model into nontraditional fields."

Hawkeye Community College offers apprenticeships in carpentry, electrical, flooring installation, plumbing, and HVAC. During 2024, more than 440 individuals were enrolled in apprenticeship training through Hawkeye.

"This grant supports Hawkeye Community College's apprenticeship training -helping employers meet workforce demands, strengthening the local economy, and giving individuals a clear path to rewarding, high-wage careers," said Dr. Todd Holcomb, president of Hawkeye Community College.

For more information about apprenticeship programs at Hawkeye Community College, visit www.hawkeyecollege.edu/apprenticeship.