Whether in Iowa's largest cities or in small, rural communities, the healthcare sector remains critical to the workforce pipeline. In her 2025 Condition of the State address, Governor Reynolds announced a new grant opportunity for eligible healthcare employers that aims to create a new pipeline of workers to help fill high-demand occupations in the healthcare workforce.
Iowa Healthcare Pipeline Grant
Overview
Iowa Healthcare Credentialing Grant
Purpose
Supports the creation of new pipelines of workers to help fill high-demand occupations in the healthcare sector.
Available Funding
$3,000,000 (maximum of $250,000 per grantee)
Eligible Programs
Work-based learning (WBL) programs that include an earn and learn component (Registered Apprenticeship, on-the-job training programs, or related programs that upskill or re-skill workers)
Application Period
The application is now closed. New awards were announced on May 28, 2025.
Grant Status: New Awards Announced May 28, 2025
Governor Reynolds has announced new grant awards for healthcare employers that will help boost the industry’s workforce across Iowa. A total of $2.94 million in grants from the Iowa Healthcare Credentialing Grant will provide financial support for 14 projects focused on supporting workers in a high-demand healthcare occupation. In total, awarded projects that are estimated to train or upskill nearly 400 participants across the state.
Grant Overview: Iowa Healthcare Credentialing Grant
The Iowa Healthcare Credentialing Grant was created to provide financial assistance healthcare employers to crate new pipelines of workers to help fill high-demand occupations in the healthcare sector.
Awarded programs must be work-based learning (WBL) programs with an earn and learn component, which can include Registered Apprenticeship (RA), on-the-job training programs, or related programs that upskill or re-skill workers.
Total funding available: $3,000,000
Awarded funds: Individual project allocations will be considered up to a maximum of $250,000 per grantee. Projects will require a 25% private match of total program cost.
Eligible Expenses for Grant Funds:
Third-party Tuition and Fee Expenses for coursework specific to the healthcare training program for program participants.
Apprentice or Earn and Learn Participant Wages for eligible times throughout the program.
Internal Instructor Wages (This is an instructor employed by the applicant agency).
Mentor and Preceptor Wages for direct contact time with participants related to identified program activities.
Administrative Expenses – maximum of 5% of grant award for each submission (not eligible as match expenses)
The Iowa Healthcare Credentialing Grant was open to healthcare employers who:
Have a physical location, a substantial Iowa presence, and are doing business in the State of Iowa.
Are currently providing healthcare services to local residents through one of the following settings or physical locations: hospital, long-term care facility, assisted living care, ambulatory care, home health or dental practice/office.
In good standing with the State of Iowa.
Are registered with and establish a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through SAM.gov prior to submission of an application.
Programs for creating the workforce pipeline must be in an approved health related field. Eligible High-Demand Priority Occupations are the following:
