IDED Annual Report

Workforce Training

Iowa’s workforce training programs Iowa’s workforce training programs support the growth and competitiveness in Iowa’s business and industry through customized training that creates a more skilled labor pool. Iowa’s industry-driven workforce development programs and services enhance Iowa’s economic well being by increasing the skills of the Iowa workforce. Iowans are acquiring skills that will increase their earning and improve the competitiveness of Iowa businesses.

The mission of IDED’s Workforce Development initiative is:

to work in partnership with public/private service providers and other state agencies to actively promote Iowa’s preeminence in new employee training, incumbent worker preparation, lifelong learning, and development and expansion of the state’s labor pool to enhance the state’s businesses’ competitiveness, thus keeping companies located in Iowa and raising the wages of Iowa workers.

Iowa has three employer-directed job-training programs to serve different employment needs – new job training, training for existing employees and training for students who will transition into future jobs. The IDED works with the community college system and Iowa businesses to provide this training. By leveraging training resources, filling funding gaps in human resource development initiatives, and sponsoring business consortia that address common employment training needs, the skills of Iowa’s workers are enhanced, allowing its industries to grow.

Training dollars can be used to provide the following services:

- Basic Adult Education
- Skill Assessment
- Job related counseling
- Training services of a community college or another educational institution
- Training related materials, equipment, software and supplies
- Testing and evaluation of employees
- Cost of training services for company, college or contracted trainer
- Reimbursement of training travel costs for employees
- Contracted or professional services

Eligible applicants include Iowa businesses engaged in manufacturing, processing, assembling products, warehousing, wholesaling, or conducting research and development. Businesses engaged in the provision of services that have customers outside of Iowa are also eligible.

• Access the Full IDED Workforce Development Report [PDF: 77k]