23A60HG000047

Project Title: Scaling Manufacturing and Renewables Training in Iowa (SMART Iowa)
Overview: Hawkeye Community College, in partnership with One Cedar Valley and the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW), is spearheading a transformative initiative to expand advanced manufacturing and clean energy pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships in Northeast Iowa. Our collective goal is to develop a skilled workforce capable of meeting the evolving needs of infrastructure occupations in the region. Through this project, we will focus on sectors such as clean renewable energy, information science, advanced manufacturing, and construction.

Smart Iowa will scale up our existing manufacturing pre-apprenticeship program Ignite and it to new occupations to better serve the evolving clean energy manufacturing sector in the region. Our vision is to broaden access to these opportunities, particularly for populations of color, including women, and to extend our reach to underserved rural communities.
Background: Northeast Iowa's manufacturing industry is embracing the global trend towards sustainable transportation, particularly electric vehicle (EV) production. As the manufacturing landscape shifts, there is an increasing demand for skilled workers proficient in EV technologies, battery manufacturing, and advanced automation systems. These needs transcend sectors such as IT, manufacturing, and construction.

The transition to EV manufacturing presents significant opportunities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 8.6 growth in green jobs, resulting in the addition of 114,300 jobs over the next decade. These jobs offer a median salary of $76,530 per year, surpassing the national median. However, currently, these opportunities are not equitably distributed. Only a small fraction of clean energy workers in Iowa are non-white or female, perpetuating income inequality and limiting upward mobility.
Strategy: To address these disparities and capitalize on the growing demand for EV manufacturing, Hawkeye Community College, as the lead organization, proposes expanding the Ignite Pathways pre-apprenticeship program to build more apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship programs in occupations relevant to clean energy manufacturing. Building upon the success of our program in Waterloo, we will bring the initiative to additional rural counties and cities with larger populations of color. By incorporating specialized training pathways in electric vehicle technologies and battery manufacturing, we will equip individuals with the skills necessary to thrive in this emerging sector.

Our expansion will foster a competent and diverse workforce to drive regional economic growth. We will target the following occupations: assemblers and fabricators, all other - O NET 51-2099.00, machinists - O NET 51-4041.00, electrical and electronic engineering technicians - O NET 17-3023.00, apprenticeship training (NAICS 611513), electrician (NAICS 238210), carpenters (NAICS 238350), other support activities for road transportation (NAICS 488490), site preparation contractor (NAICS 238910), and truck transportation (NAICS 484000).
Desired Outcomes: Our initiative aims to leverage the pre-apprenticeship model to create pathways into green infrastructure jobs in Northeast Iowa. We envision enrolling 2500 participants in the program, marking a significant step towards building a skilled workforce. By specifically recruiting participants in predominantly Black communities, rural communities, and women we aim to increase in BIPOC participants and female participants, fostering diversity and inclusivity within the industry.

Hawkeye Community College

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY GOAL(S) TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE MORE EFFICIENT FUNCTIONING OF THE U.S. LABOR MARKET BY PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY JOB TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT, OR LABOR MARKET INFORMATION.

17.268 - H-1B Job Training Grants

Employment and Training Administration (ETA) [DOL]

Office of Workforce Investment [DOL - ETA]

Iowa United States

State-Wide

DOL Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program (FOA-ETA-23-31)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 58% from $5,940,254 to $9,412,154.