Iowa Innovative Businesses Internship Program
Provides Reimbursement grants for Iowa tech employers hiring student interns.
The Iowa Innovative Businesses Internship Program sat on the Iowa Economic Development Authority's financial-assistance hub and was delivered through Iowa Workforce Development. It reimbursed Iowa employers in bioscience, advanced manufacturing, or information technology for hiring college student interns, so the route sat closer to workforce development than to open innovation funding. When active, the program matched wages dollar for dollar up to $3,100 per intern and $9,300 per employer each fiscal year. Employers had to keep to 500 or fewer workers, pay at least $14.50 an hour, and hire no more than three interns, which kept the support tightly aimed at small Iowa employers in targeted sectors. The best fit was a company using interns in applied R&D, engineering, product development, or market research. The program is now wound down and will not open for FY2027, so it should be treated as closed rather than as a live application route.
No upcoming rounds verified. Cadence: Annual.