Iowa Awards Initial Grants to Expand Workforce Training in Advanced Manufacturing
Iowa Workforce Development Communications
For Immediate Release
Date: October 13, 2026
Contact: Jesse Dougherty
Telephone: 515-725-5487
Email: [email protected]
View Printer Friendly Version of AMP'D Iowa Awards Press Release (PDF) (172.16 KB) .pdf
AMP’D Iowa continues to accept new applications for industry businesses looking to train newly hired or existing workers.
DES MOINES, IOWA – Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) is announcing the initial list of awardees for the Advanced Manufacturing Pathways Development (AMP’D) Iowa grant, a new training initiative that aims to create a more skilled and competitive workforce in Iowa’s advanced manufacturing industry.
AMP’D Iowa is awarding grants to 16 unique businesses in advanced manufacturing, totaling $1,391,547 in funds. The grant recipients, listed below, will design their own training programs that focus on production, machine maintenance, and other critical skill gaps in their labor force. In total, the awards are estimated to support the training of 631 workers statewide.
Initial AMP’D Iowa Awardees
- Blackhawk Engineering, LLC – Cedar Falls
- Cemen Tech, Inc. – Indianola
- ConAgra Brands, Inc. – Waterloo
- Geater Machining & Manufacturing Co. – Independence
- Grain Millers, Inc. – St. Ansgar
- Lewis Machine & Tool Co. – Eldridge
- Link Mfg, LTD – Sioux Center
- McCarthy-Bush Corp dba Oertel Metal Works, Inc. – Davenport
- MMS Thermal Processing, LLC – Davenport
- Plastics Unlimited, Inc. – Preston
- Power Engineering & Manufacturing – Waterloo
- Price Industrial Electric, Inc. – Robins
- Quality Plus Manufacturing, LLC – Oelwein
- Raining Rose, Inc. – Cedar Rapids
- Softronics, Ltd. – Marion
- Wieland & Sons Lumber Co. – Winthrop
Today’s announcement details the initial round of what will eventually be an estimated $4 million in grant awards from AMP’D Iowa. The grant process will remain open, with applications accepted on a rolling basis until all remaining funds are obligated and awarded.
"Iowa manufacturers now have another tool that will help them elevate their most valuable resource and strengthen our competitive economy,” said Governor Kim Reynolds. “I applaud today’s awardees for their investment in building and sustaining our highly skilled manufacturing workforce."
Grant Reminders
- Applications will continue to be accepted on iowagrants.gov as funds allow.
- A grants webpage with more information, including application documents and recorded webinar, can be found at ampd.iowa.gov.
"Today’s awards made possible by the AMP’D initiative represent not only a significant investment in our workforce, but also a positive development for an industry whose impact is felt across our state,” said Beth Townsend, Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development. “We hope that these initial awards encourage more employers in advanced manufacturing to consider applying to upskill their workforce and strengthen the skills of fellow Iowans."
Eligible employers for AMP’D Iowa may receive up to 80 percent reimbursement for expenses incurred on training newly hired or current employees, offsetting costs and accelerating upskilling in their workforce. Grant awards can include a maximum of $4,000 per employee, up to a $250,000 maximum per employer.
Grant funds were made possible by the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund. AMP’D Iowa builds on the success of Iowa’s Manufacturing 4.0 initiative and will fulfill another critical need for the industry by aligning worker training with the technological and competitive needs of tomorrow. Learn more at ampd.iowa.gov.
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