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Business Incentive Grant

Business Incentive Grant 

Iowa Registered Apprentice Welder

A one-time business incentive per Registered Apprentice is available to Iowa Registered Apprenticeship (RA) Sponsors, who create or operate an RA Program in the healthcare or agriculture sector or  another high-demand industry. 

Application Process

Step 1: RA Sponsor complete the Business Incentive form.

Step 2: Registered Apprentice must complete an application at www.iowaworks.gov to gather federal reporting requirements related to this funding opportunity.  If assistance is needed, please submit a contact form.

Step 3: Registered Apprentice must upload a verification document to www.iowaworks.gov to the "Documents Tab" to confirm identity.  Documents may include:

  • Social Security card
  • U.S. Passport
  • Military ID
  • Or other federal/state ID

Step 4: Registered Apprenticeship Program Coordinator will confirm all required information has been provided.  Once completed, a Letter of Agreement will be signed by the RA Sponsor and IWD.

Step 5: Payment will be released to the RA Sponsor. 

 

Business Incentive Application Form

 

Healthcare and Agricultural Industry Requirements

In order to receive business incentive funds for the healthcare or agricultural industries, apprenticeable occupations must fall into one of the following Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) System Groups:

  • 11-9010: Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
  • 11-9110: Medical and Health Services Managers
  • 19-0000: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
  • 21-0000: Community and Social Service Occupations
  • 29-0000: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
  • 31-0000: Healthcare Support Occupations
  • 33-0000: Protective Service Occupations
  • 39-9011: Childcare Workers
  • 45-0000: Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations
  • 51-9080: Dental and Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians and Medical Appliance Technicians Occupations
  • 53-3010: Ambulance Drivers and Attendants

If an occupation does not fall into one of these SOC codes, RA Program Coordinator will consult with the U.S. Department of Labor/ Office of Apprenticeship (U.S. DOL/OA) to determine if an occupation may be eligible for benefits.

Industries Affected by COVID-19

  • Industries must experience 15% of Pandemic Related Unemployment Initial Claims as it relates to 2019 Covered Employment for the month prior to the application.
  • Example: September 30, 2020: Manufacturing
2019 Covered Employment  Pandemic Related Unemployment Initial Claims Percent of Claims to Employment 
226,207 55,518 24.5%

If Company A has a Registered Apprenticeship Program in the Manufacturing sector and applied for benefits in August, then this company would be eligible for this funding.

The above industry information will be updated monthly by the Labor Market Information Division and is available below.

Additional Requirements

  • The program and the apprentice must be registered with the U.S. DOL/OA before applying for the incentive
  • The incentive is $1,500 per Registered Apprentice
  • Registered Apprentices must start their program after July 1, 2020 to be eligible for the award
  • If an industry is applying under the industry affected by COVID-19 program, the industry must be on the approved industry list the month prior to the registration of the participant. This is a rolling application process and the program is completed once the funds are expended
  • Attach a copy of the Registered Apprentice's ETA Form 671 to the application to confirm hiring of the Registered Apprentice
  • Iowa Workforce Development will confirm with U.S. DOL/OA the Registered Apprentice is officially registered in RAPIDS prior to the business receiving a contract for the funding
  • Funds cannot be used to cover expenses that were also submitted to any other government agency for reimbursement
  • Only Registered Apprenticeship Sponsors in Iowa are eligible to apply for this funding
  • The funding is available from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023 unless the funds are depleted earlier
  • The construction industry is limited to 100 incentive payments under this program

Use of Incentives

The incentives may be used to reimburse the following items:

  • Related Training Instruction (RTI) for the Registered Apprentice
  • Salary of RTI instructors, if training is provided in-house
  • Support for On-the-Job Training (OJT) to reimburse employers up to 50% of the Registered Apprentice wage or mentor’s wage
  • Supportive Services, which may include but not limited to:
    • Transportation
    • Childcare
    • Dependent care
    • Housing and needs-related payments that are necessary to enable an individual to participate in a RA Program
    • Tools related to the OJT component of the RA Program

The business incentive will be reimbursed to the party who paid the initial costs of the allowable expense. Business and Registered Apprentices must follow the application process.

Have Questions? Need Help?

For more information, contact us at RegisteredApprenticeship@iwd.iowa.gov or use our contact form.