Branstad, Reynolds’ work-based learning proposal wins NGA grant

Gov. Terry Branstad announced Thursday that Iowa has been awarded a $100,000 National Governors Association (NGA) grant to scale work-based learning that will connect Iowa’s youth with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) middle-skills careers. The grant was awarded after the governor’s office submitted a proposal to the NGA Center for Best Practices Policy Academy on Scaling Work-Based Learning, and aligns with the efforts within the Future Ready Iowa initiative to ensure that Iowans have the skills they need for rewarding careers and Iowa’s employers have the skilled workforce they need to grow and innovate.    

Six states—Indiana, Iowa, Montana, New Hampshire, Utah and Washington—will participate in the policy academy on scaling work-based learning, blending work experience and applied learning to develop youth and young adults’ foundational and technical skills to expand their education, career and employment opportunities. Iowa will focus on connecting 16 to 29 year-olds with middle-skills career opportunities in STEM-intensive industries such as advanced manufacturing, health care, information technology and energy.