(Des Moines)– Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) have announced that $20 million in Manufacturing 4.0 Workforce Innovation grants have been awarded to 46 companies in Iowa. These grants are geared toward Iowa manufacturers with 76-250 employees across locations investing in Industry 4.0 technologies to address workforce issues exacerbated by the negative impacts of COVID-19. Recipients received up to $500,000 in grant funding and a minimum match of 25% was required. In our area, Art’s Way Manufacturing in Armstrong, KLM Acquisitions Aluma Trailers in Bancroft, Kooima Company in Rock Valley and Smith Company Manufacturing in LeMars were each awarded $500,000. R.J. Thomas Manufacturing in Cherokee will get a little more than $467,000.
An additional $1.9 million in Technology Investment grants was awarded to 37 companies with 3-75 employees for projects that encompass the adoption and integration of smart technologies. These smaller companies received grants of up to $75,000 and a minimum match of 1:1 was required. Simply Said Inc. in Rock Rapids was awarded $25,000 through that program. Iowa’s Manufacturing 4.0 plan, a roadmap to help Iowa manufacturers remain globally competitive through a fourth industrial revolution that emphasizes automation and smart technology, was launched in February 2021.
