As demand for skilled craft labor continues to rise alongside major infrastructure and data center development, workforce investment remains a critical priority for construction owners and contractors. QTS has announced a $5 million commitment to expand skilled trades training across eastern Iowa, supporting long-term labor availability for construction, manufacturing and infrastructure projects.
Beginning in 2026, QTS plans to distribute funding to education and workforce development organizations serving Cedar Rapids, Clinton and surrounding communities. The initiative is designed to increase access to career pathways in construction and related skilled trades while strengthening the regional workforce pipeline.
The investment will support multiple training channels, including high school career and technical education programs, selected community colleges offering construction and advanced manufacturing programs, and a new pre-apprenticeship program developed with the Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council.
Funding also will increase capacity for union-affiliated apprenticeship programs involving the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 405, United Association Local 125, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 234, SMART Local 263 and United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 308.
The Iowa Workforce Development Foundation will oversee coordination among participating organizations to help connect students and job seekers with education, apprenticeship opportunities and employment.
The workforce initiative builds on QTS's broader investment in eastern Iowa, where the company is advancing plans for a data center campus at the Big Cedar Industrial Center. QTS is also contributing to the development of a local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers training facility to expand regional apprenticeship capacity.
According to publicly available labor projections referenced by QTS, demand for skilled construction trades is expected to remain strong nationally over the coming years. Iowa also projects continued employment growth in construction through 2034, reflecting ongoing infrastructure and industrial investment across the state.
Construction owners, developers and contractors continue to face workforce constraints as data centers, manufacturing facilities and infrastructure projects expand across the Midwest. Investments in career and technical education, apprenticeship programs and industry partnerships can help increase the supply of qualified craft professionals while creating stronger local labor pipelines for future construction activity.
Source: QTS.
