Iowa Apprenticeship Training Program 84E

The Iowa Apprenticeship Training Program 84E, administered by Iowa Workforce Development, is a state-funded initiative designed to support the development and maintenance of Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs across Iowa. Created under Iowa Code Chapter 84E, the program provides competitive grant funding to RA sponsors who operate qualifying programs under the jurisdiction of the Iowa Office of Apprenticeship. The overarching goal of the program is to expand workforce development by incentivizing the infrastructure necessary to train apprentices through in-person instruction and structured employment. Funding under this program is intended as reimbursement for costs directly associated with conducting and maintaining a Registered Apprenticeship program. This includes salaries and wages for apprentices, program coordinators, instructors, and costs related to related instruction such as tuition, materials, and certain equipment. All qualifying expenses must occur between July 1, 2025 and December 31, 2026, and must directly support apprentices who are actively employed at Iowa worksites. Notably, food, travel, and general transportation expenses are excluded from eligibility. To be eligible for funding, applicants must be active apprenticeship sponsors with programs registered in the RAPIDS system. Each applicant must have at least one apprentice with a "Registered" or "Completed" status in RAPIDS between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. Furthermore, apprentices must reside in Iowa and be employed at Iowa worksites. The program also requires that each apprentice receives at least 100 hours of in-person related instruction within the 2025 calendar year. Documentation supporting all claimed expenses and apprenticeship qualifications must be retained and submitted as part of the reimbursement process. The application period for the 2026 funding cycle will open on January 2, 2026, and close on February 2, 2026, at 2:00 PM Central Time. Applications must be submitted electronically through IowaGrants.gov using the officially provided forms. Only authorized representatives using their own credentials may complete the submission. Late applications will not be accepted by the system. Additionally, technical assistance will be available through a series of pre-application webinars held in January 2026, with recordings and updates posted to the Iowa Workforce Development website. All grant funds are administered as reimbursement only, with no advance payment permitted. Final reimbursement requests, proof of expenses, and supporting documentation must be submitted no later than February 15, 2027. Payments are contingent upon satisfactory documentation and compliance with all program requirements. Applicants may be contacted for clarification but should not assume that a clarification request ensures funding. The 84E program is recurring and operates on an annual funding cycle, supported by a $3 million appropriation from the State of Iowa. Funding allocations are determined by the number of qualifying apprentices each sponsor has in proportion to the statewide total. This allows for a fair distribution of resources based on actual participation. The performance period concludes on December 31, 2026, with a grant closeout deadline of February 15, 2027.