Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Iowa has opened its expanded apprenticeship training center in Grimes, according to a release. The Grimes facility was first built in 2013 and was 8,000 square feet. After six months of construction in 2018, the facility has doubled to 16,000 square feet with six additional classrooms and state-of-the-art features that include labs for electrical, plumbing and HVAC; an eight-station welding lab and a sheet metal lab with a plasma cutting table. To address the worker shortage and curb the skills gap through craft training and safety training programs, the organization opened a new training center last year in Hiawatha and unveiled a virtual reality trailer, which has been used at job fairs and high schools throughout the state to showcase real-world experiences in the trades. Last year, ABC of Iowa trained more than 1,400 apprentices in three difference facilities. ABC’s students learn new skills and get paid to further their career through earn-and-learn programs.