The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) awarded Iowa Workforce Development a formula grant of $5,953,674 under the Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities program (CFDA 17.207), effective July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028. This universal access program delivers employment exchange services and labor market information to job seekers and employers throughout Iowa. Core services for job seekers include career assessments, career guidance, job search workshops, job referrals, placement assistance, and labor market information. Employer services encompass job posting capabilities, candidate matching and referral, recruitment support for hard-to-fill positions, and assistance with workforce restructuring initiatives related to layoffs and dislocations.
The grant supports Iowa Workforce Development's delivery of these services through its network, with authorization to subaward funds to conduct labor market information research and provide targeted services such as career interest assessments, career guidance, and job search workshops. Training services are expressly excluded from allowable uses. The program's primary outcome is to enable individuals to access necessary employment services that address barriers to workforce participation and facilitate rapid reentry into the labor market, while simultaneously supporting employer recruitment needs through efficient candidate-to-opportunity matching.