(Des Moines) Today, Governor Reynolds announced 46 awardees of the Coronavirus Relief Fund Earn and Learn Grant, totaling $5.85 Million.
The grants will fund projects that support the creation and expansion of short-term training programs and support services resulting in industry-recognized credentials. Individual grants ranging $10,000 to $250,000 were awarded to project proposals submitted by nonprofits, adult training providers, small businesses (less than 50 employees), post-secondary institutions, and unions.
The Coronavirus Relief Fund Grant programs support Future Ready Iowa’s goal of having 70 percent of Iowans in the workforce with education and training beyond high school by 2025. Approximately 60 percent of Iowa’s current workforce meets this education and training criteria.
Awardees in the southwest Iowa area include:
BeJer Health Inc. dba Valley Drug Store in Missouri Valley (Award: $18,371). Valley Drug Store will create and implement a new Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Program which will result in National Certified Pharmacy Technician credentials. The program will enroll up to 3 apprentices by the end of February, 2021.
The Lakeside Village in Panora (Award: $150,000). Twenty-three individuals will be provided support to address barriers including childcare and transportation in addition to participating in an earn and learn model to earn credentials including Certified Nursing Aide, Medication Management, ServSafe and Dietary Manager certifications.
Vandemark Heating and Cooling in Woodbine (Award: $79,750). The establishment of a long-term Registered Apprenticeship Program is the goal of this project. Initially, two individuals whose jobs have been affected by coronavirus will be hired and trained in a HVAC Registered Apprenticeship program.
LePorte Electric in Shenandoah (Award: $14,246). This funding supports the creation of a new electrical registered apprenticeship program targeting Iowans whose employment has been impacted by the pandemic.
Loess Hills Environmental, LLC in Logan (Award: $24,243). To address the need of key health and safety certifications mandated for work in several high demand professions, Loess Hills will deliver hybrid online and in-person training courses in blood borne pathogen, first aid, CPR and AED certifications for up to 168 Iowans.
St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll (Award: $212,033). Funding will support a new apprenticeship program that recruits, trains and employs up to 40 Iowans in certified nursing assistants and certified medical assistants.
Country Meats in Arcadia (Award: $200,000). This will expand a newly established Meat Cutting Registered Apprenticeship Program by adding two additional registered apprentices who will be hired before the end of February with the potential of an additional three apprentices in the near future.
More information can be found here: https://www.futurereadyiowa.gov/sites/fri/files/basic_page_files/CRF%20Earn%20and%20Learn%20Grant%20Awardee%20Summaries.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
