Iowa Workforce Development Communications
Date: October 27, 2026
Media Contact: Jesse Dougherty
Telephone: 515-725-5487
Email: [email protected]
Iowa Launches Incentive Program to Jumpstart New Registered Apprenticeships Across the State
Organizations starting new programs will be eligible for $2,000 payments per apprentice, plus an additional $1,000 for high-demand industry occupations.
DES MOINES, IOWA – The Iowa Office of Apprenticeship (IOA) is excited to announce more than $1 million in incentives designed to spark the creation of new Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs across the state, including in Iowa's most high-demand industries.
The incentives program, named LaunchRA, will support new RA programs who have hired and retained apprentices. Newly created RA programs who have hosted an active apprentice for six months will be eligible to request payments (per apprentice) to support their commitment to RA development and program growth. The IOA encourages sponsors of new programs to enroll apprentices now in preparation for the new incentives.
LaunchRA Incentives:
RA programs registered on or after July 1, 2026, are eligible to receive $2,000 for every apprentice enrolled in their program on October 1, 2026, or later, provided that the apprentice has completed a minimum of six months or 180 days in their program. To support retention, new programs can request payments from LaunchRA only after an apprentice reaches this six‑month milestone.
Sponsors who create RA Programs that support eligible high-demand industry occupations in Advanced Manufacturing, Education, Healthcare and Information Technology (IT) will be able to request an additional $1,000 for each retained apprentice.
Upcoming Webinar:
The IOA will host an upcoming webinar to provide an overview of the LaunchRA program and answer questions. Interested organizations are encouraged to register and attend:
“With dedicated resources and new incentives becoming available through the statewide office, there’s never been a greater time for business to get involved with Registered Apprenticeship,” said Beth Townsend, Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development. “We encourage any new program to apply for the new incentives that can fuel the expansion of a proven workforce model that will work in almost any industry.”
The IOA has created a new webpage that details program eligibility and other pertinent information for LaunchRA. The office also stands ready to connect with any interested organization about starting an RA program. More details can be found at workforce.iowa.gov/launch-ra.
