Future Ready Iowa Funding

December 6, 2019

Governor Reynolds announced the first round of recipients for the future Ready Iowa Act following the successful passing of funds that Iowa Business Council helped advocate for during the last legislative session of early 2019.

Governor Reynolds held a press conference to recognize the Future Ready Iowa scholarship recipients. More than 5,800 Iowa students have received the new Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship for fall 2019. It is projected that more than $6.6 million has been awarded for the fall semester, helping pave the way for more Iowans to acquire the education and training needed to close the skills gap and secure good-paying, high-demand jobs that meet industry workforce needs. Gov. Reynolds specifically thanked the Iowa Business Council and other organizations that helped inform the scholarships. 

In addition, Governor Reynolds announced 22 recipients of the Employer Innovation Fund, a matching grant that helps employers grow their local workforce talent pipeline by fueling innovative post-secondary training that advances industry specific credentials leading to high-demand jobs in Iowa.  A recent recipient of the matching grant was the Heartland AEA who received $12,5000  to develop an industry sponsored career investigative learning module for each of these high-demand occupations. These modules connect students directly to industries they are interested in as well as provide access to mentors in the industry.  Employers and community leaders can apply by submitting a proposal for implementing a creative solution to their local workforce needs.

“Future Ready Iowa provides Iowans with life-changing opportunities while simultaneously helping employers grow their local workforce talent pipeline,” said Gov. Reynolds.