The Iowa Economic Development Authority has awarded $1.2 million to expand registered apprenticeship programs statewide. According to an IEDA news release, the new funding was awarded to employers and high schools to help them prepare workers for high-demand jobs through on-the-job training, and help increase the number of highly skilled workers in Iowa. The 54 awards are through the Registered Apprenticeship Development Program, and are funded as part of the Future Ready Iowa Act, which was signed into law in January 2018 by Gov. Kim Reynolds. The program provides $1 million in grants per fiscal year to organizations that develop a registered apprenticeship program in a high-demand industry such as information technology, advanced manufacturing and finance. Funds carried over from the previous year account for the current award amount, according to the release. Eligible organizations can receive up to $25,000 for a program, up up to $50,000 for multiple programs. The funding is in addition to $3 million available each ear through the Iowa Apprenticeship Act.