Iowa Workforce Development is taking applications for grants aimed at helping employers create summer youth internship programs in high-demand career fields.
About $250,000 in grants from IWD will be available to support internships for Iowans aged 14 to 23.
Eligible applicants for the Summer Youth Internship Grant include: nonprofits, educational institutions, employers and community organizations. Priority funding will be given to employers with programs that provide internships to youth who are at risk of not graduating and from low-income households. Or those who face barriers to upward mobility in the labor market. (For example, being from communities underrepresented in the workforce).
Employers interested in applying should visit iowagrants.gov. The deadline to apply for Summer Youth Internship Grants is 2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 21. Visit this link for information on the funding opportunity and how to apply.
In addition, IWD will host a webinar for interested applicants at 1 p.m., Monday, Jan. 29. Click here to RSVP.
What grants support
Employers may use grant funds for:
- Participant wages (gross wages).
- Participant compensation (as a result of completing the program).
- Training resources, program supplies, and materials.
- Program coordination.
- Administrative costs (limited to 10% of total award).
“Youth internships are often a great springboard for potential careers, and so I’m thrilled to see another funding opportunity open for this successful program,” Beth Townsend, IWD’s executive director, said in a news release announcing the funding round. “The earlier we can get youth engaged in promising on-the-job experiences, the more likely they are to find a pathway here in Iowa.”
Grant applicants also are strongly encouraged to co-enroll Summer Youth Internship participants with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I Youth Program in their local area.
For a full list of funding requirements and how the funds can be used, visit this link for the notice of funding and other resources.
