(Bettendorf, IA) -- More than 70 high school students in the Quad Cities are starting apprenticeships.
It's the largest class in years for the Quad Cities Chamber's High School Registered Apprenticeship program.
Students met with smaller local businesses, as well as larger companies, such as John Deere and Arconic.
Future Ready Iowa says 91% of apprentices who complete an apprenticeship are employed in the field nine months later.
The program is expecting more students in the future, as the state created the Iowa Office of Apprenticeship this week.
It aims to make it easier for students to enter the practice.
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