IWD Publishes Rules for Employer Innovation Fund

Iowa Workforce Development earlier this week formally noticed administrative rules to implement the Employer Innovation Fund policy that passed in the 2018 legislative session. The Legislature appropriated and the governor signed into law $1.2 million in funding that employers can apply to receive grant funding. You can read a draft of the rules. The public comment period is open until June 11. The brief rules outline the criteria to apply for an award. All applications are due to the Director of Workforce Development by August 1, 2019. According to the draft rules, “The employer innovation fund can be used for credit and noncredit programs; for wrap-around support programs in areas such as child care, transportation, books, equipment, and fees; or for other innovative ideas and proposals that can assist Iowa residents in completing training and education.” If you have feedback on the rules, please contact Nicole Crain by June 7. Additionally, this program will be very popular, so we encourage you to start thinking about how you can utilize the Employer Innovation Fund to help train and upskill Iowa’s workforce.