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(Des Moines, IA) -- The Iowa House is drafting their version of the budget bill, which features a new workforce grant program.
"What you'll see in the bill is $12 million. Half of that, $6 million will be dedicated to scholarships that will go to the students that enter into the [teaching] programs," says House Speaker Pat Grassley. "You also have $6 million for scholarships for high-demand jobs."
The funds for the scholarships will come from the College Student Aid Commission. Grassley says individual students will be eligible for up to $10,000 over two years of school.
Louisa County Representative David Kerr says the bill will be good for Iowa's public universities.
"It will be a great recruiting tool here in Iowa for each of the Regents universities to attract students. They need students because the enrollments are decreasing," says Kerr.
Working with the Board of Regents, Grassley states the program will help solve the current workforce shortage, but also potential future workforce shortages as well.
"Whether it's today, or long-term, we need to be working closer together with higher education to try to help address [workforce shortages]," says Grassley.
The $12 million program does not reflect a change in the budget for the Iowa Board of Regents. They will see no increase to their budget for the third consecutive year.