Gov. Kim Reynolds announced today the new Iowa Entry-Level Driver Training Program, which will help interested truck drivers obtain their commercial driver’s license in Iowa. According to a news release, the program will provide $6 million to support employers, nonprofits and related organizations that sponsor or partner on key training programs designed to prepare potential drivers for CDL skills or knowledge tests. Earlier this year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration implemented entry-level driver training, requiring all new drivers to undertake additional training requirements on top of existing CDL standards, the release said. The aims of the grant program in Iowa are to remove cost barriers created by the update and increase the number of drivers with CDL licenses across the state. “The Entry-Level Driver Training Program provides more opportunities to obtain a CDL, but it also makes it easier for employers to recruit and train their own drivers,” Beth Townsend, director of Iowa Workforce Development, said in the release. “This effort will also make our state more competitive in these high-demand fields by helping employers offer the right training when and where their workers need it.” The grant funding will reimburse eligible organizations that offer training programs in-house or through a partnership with a certified training provider. All training providers and drivers are required to meet all federal driving standards under the Entry-Level Driver Training Program. Applications will be accepted at iowagrants.gov from Dec. 13 to Feb. 3. Registration is available for an informational webinar scheduled for Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. More information on the grant, its requirements and the approval process is available on the Future Ready Iowa website.