Iowa Registered Apprenticeship Development Fund (84F)

The Iowa Registered Apprenticeship Development Fund (84F) is a state-administered grant program managed by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) with the aim of expanding registered apprenticeship (RA) opportunities in high-demand occupations. The program provides financial assistance to new or expanding apprenticeship sponsors who establish qualifying RA programs with 20 or fewer apprentices. Administered annually, the fund supports Iowa's workforce development priorities by enabling practical, on-the-job learning experiences in sectors where skilled labor is needed most. All registered programs must comply with standards set by both the U.S. Department of Labor and the Iowa Office of Apprenticeship. For the 2026 cycle, IWD has allocated $760,000 to fund eligible proposals through a competitive process. Grants are awarded as one-time reimbursements of up to $25,000 per application to cover costs associated with establishing or expanding an RA program for high-demand occupations. Applicants can request support for multiple occupations, with a total cap of $50,000 in awarded funds per organization per year. These funds are strictly for reimbursing allowable expenses such as apprentice wages during on-the-job training, related training tuition and fees, technical instruction materials, instructor wages during training, and equipment or supply purchases up to $5,000. All reimbursable activities must occur between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, while apprentices are actively enrolled. Eligibility is limited to apprenticeship sponsors who have developed and registered new RA programs or added new high-demand occupations to existing programs during the 2025 calendar year. To qualify, applicants must have at least one active apprentice registered in the RAPIDS system in a high-demand occupation during this period and maintain 20 or fewer total apprentices in their programs. Moreover, at least 70 percent of these apprentices must reside in Iowa, with the remainder residing in contiguous states. National intermediary sponsors must maintain an in-state office as documented via their W-9 form. Sponsors who receive funding under the parallel 84E program are ineligible for 84F support during the same calendar year. The application window for the 2026 cycle runs from January 2, 2026, to February 2, 2026. All applications must be submitted electronically through the IowaGrants.gov portal using the approved forms. Only the applicant’s authorized representative is permitted to submit on behalf of the organization. The program includes two optional pre-application webinars scheduled for January 6 and January 14, 2026, both hosted via Microsoft Teams. Application materials must include a program budget and justification, proof of registration in RAPIDS, apprentice demographic data, and relevant declarations concerning worksite location and environmental compliance. Applications will be evaluated using a 100-point rubric with emphasis on budget justification, cost realism, documentation of local support, internal contributions beyond the grant, and compliance with safety and employment criteria. A minimum score of 65 is required to be eligible for funding consideration. Successful applicants will be notified via a Notice of Intent to Award posted on the IWD and IowaGrants websites. All reimbursement claims, accompanied by detailed documentation including receipts and payroll records, must be submitted by September 30, 2026. No advance payments are permitted. Grant inquiries should be directed to Ann Hoeppner, Apprenticeship Program Coordinator at the Iowa Office of Apprenticeship. She can be reached via email at ann.hoeppner@iwd.iowa.gov or by phone at 515-725-3665. The full NOFO and related guidance materials are available on the official Iowa Workforce Development apprenticeship funding website.