Sioux County, Iowa — Two Sioux County manufacturing firms are receiving grants from the Corona Virus Relief Employer Innovation Fund.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced the awards that 65 applicants are receiving the grants, which are designed to assist local employers, nonprofits, community colleges, high schools, private universities, and the University of Iowa provide postsecondary training and education to Iowans whose employment has been impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. More than $4.3 million has been awarded to the winning projects. The grants are awarded through the Future Ready Iowa Program.
The Coronavirus Relief Fund Employer Innovation Fund grants can be used to cover the cost of training, books, and equipment as well as often providing much needed wrap-around support that address other barriers some Iowans face when trying to obtain skills training.
The Sioux County manufacturing companies to receive the grants are Dethmers Manufacturing of Boyden and Valley Machining Company of Rock Valley.
The $24,370 grant received by Dethmers (Demco) is for their Weld Training project, which will allow employees to obtain much-needed training for high-demand skills that would otherwise not be possible during these uncertain times. Individuals will obtain non-credit certification as well as support for related expenses including books and transportation. Six Iowans with no post-secondary training beyond high school will be trained
The $27,750 grant awarded to Valley Machining will support training of a minimum of twenty-five employees who have experienced reductions in salary and hours due to the pandemic. The training will include advanced CNC programming training.
The Future Ready Iowa goal is to have 70 percent of Iowans in the workforce with education and training beyond high school by 2025. Approximately 60 percent of Iowa’s current workforce meets this education and training criteria. Visit www.FutureReadyIowa.gov for more information.
