Scholarships Available for In-demand Manufacturing Training

Elevate Advanced Manufacturing is offering 15 $500 scholarships to all Iowa high school seniors interested in studying a manufacturing-related career at one of Iowa’s 15 community colleges. One award will be made per college region.

“Manufacturing firms supply more than 221,000 jobs to Iowans and there are many open positions with room for advancement,” said Mike Ralston, president of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry. “These well-paying careers require education and training beyond high school, but don’t require the cost of a bachelor’s degree. In many cases, students can train on the job while attending classes. Recent studies have shown that two-year degree and technical certificate holders can earn salaries that surpass those of four-year college graduates.”

Examples of training programs to which the scholarship can apply include welding, computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining, industrial automation, mechanical drafting/CADD, robotics, tool and die, and transportation and logistics. For more information about manufacturing careers, visit www.elevateiowa.com.

Interested candidates should apply by completing the application found at www.elevateiowa.com (under the “About” column). Applications are due March 15, 2020. The scholarship awardees will be recognized at the Legends in Manufacturing Awards Dinner in Altoona on September 29, 2020.

Elevate Advanced Manufacturing is a statewide, integrated marketing campaign to promote careers and educational pathways in advanced manufacturing. The initiative is directed by a coalition of all 15 Iowa community colleges, the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, the private manufacturing sector and the State of Iowa.

The campaign offers resources to the public and educational institutions to educate unemployed/underemployed Iowans, U.S. veterans, and K-12 students and their families about the opportunities in advanced manufacturing