Apprenticeship USA State Expansion Grant 2020: Competitive Funding

Competitive grant funds allocated in the Apprenticeship USA State Expansion Grant 2020’s budget narratives must require Request for Proposals (RFP).  RFPs will follow the state’s policy and procedure addressed in Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 118

Business Incentives 

As part of the Apprenticeship USA State Expansion Grant 2020, 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 industries affected by COVID-19.  

• The apprentice must be current and active when the reimbursement is requested.
• Reimbursements may take up to 60 days to process. 
• Funds cannot be used to cover expenses that were also submitted to other government agencies for reimbursement. Grantees under the Apprenticeship State Expansion Grant are not eligible for this program. 

Industries affected by COVID-19

All RA Sponsors are eligible for business incentives if their industry experienced Pandemic Related Employment impacts based on the June 2021 to date by the Labor Market Information Division report.  

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’s wage or mentor’s wage. 
• Supportive services for RA are intended to reduce participation barriers. Examples include but are not limited to:
  • Transportation Assistance
  • Financial Aid or other resources necessary to attend and complete training
  • Tuition Assistance
  • Fees for Childcare services provided during training
  • 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. RA Sponsor and Registered Apprentices must follow the application process.

The RA Program must be officially registered with the U.S. DOL/OA and the Registered Apprentice must be entered into the Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Data System (RAPIDS) to be eligible for business incentives. 

Expenses

The following expense are not allowable under the Federal Terms and Conditions of this grant agreement:

• Businesses that do not reside in Iowa
• Reimbursements to mentors or owners
• Equipment purchases over the cost of $5,000
• Outreach products 

Funding Amount

The business incentive is $1,500 per Registered Apprentice. Registered Apprentices must start their program after July 1, 2020, to be eligible for the award. This is a rolling application process with applications being reviewed and paid in the order in which they were received. This incentive program is completed once the funds are expended.  Each business is limited to 100 incentives payments under this program. 

Application Process (Four Steps)

STEP 1: The Apprentice Creates an Individual Account in IowaWORKS

Each Apprentice needs to complete an Individual Account in IowaWORKS. The Individual Account must include a copy of one of the following forms of documentation uploaded into their own file to be eligible for Business Incentives:

• Social Security Card
• U.S. Passport
• Military ID
• Other Federal/State ID

STEP 2: The Employer Completes a Business Incentive Application Form for Each Apprentice

The employer must complete a Business Incentive Application Form for each Apprentice the employer wants reimbursement on. The following forms of documentation must be provided on the form to be eligible for Business Incentives:

• Employer’s W-9 Form
• Apprentice’s 671 Form
• Reimbursement Documentation:
  • For OJT Reimbursements: Apprentice pay stubs or a payroll summary showing wages paid
  • For RTI Reimbursements: Apprentice paid tuition receipt to RTI Provider
  • For Tools and Supplies: Employer or Apprentice paid receipt or invoice
  • For Supportive Services

STEP 3: The Employer Signs and Returns a Letter of Agreement

The employer must sign and return the Registered Apprenticeship Business Incentives Grant Letter of Agreement between Iowa Workforce Development and the business. This includes agreement to submit a Quarterly Report Form for each Apprentice for the life of the grant, June 30, 2023. 

STEP 4: The Employer Completes Quarterly Reports

Based on the signed Registered Apprenticeship Business Incentives Grant Letter of Agreement between Iowa Workforce Development and the business, the employer needs to submit a Quarterly Report Form for each Apprentice for the life of the grant, June 30, 2023

• Employers will be notified when the Quarterly Reports need to be submitted
• A Quarterly Report needs to be submitted for each Apprentice until he/she/they complete or exit the program, which will be entered on their last Quarterly Report Form

Healthcare, Agricultural, or Industries Impacted by COVID-19 Requirements

Business Incentive funds are available for apprentices in the healthcare or agricultural industries, and for occupations that fall into the following  Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) System Groups:

LIST OF OCCUPATIONS

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. 

Outreach and Communication Disclaimer  

All brochures, promotional materials, and other written documents developed with SAE 2020 funds include the following disclaimer:

This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on the linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it.

Subrecipients and contractors must be notified of this requirement in their contracts or Memorandums of Understanding.