ALPLA, a global manufacturer and recycler of packaging solutions headquartered in Austria, broke ground on a new “Learning & Development Hub” in Iowa City, as stated in a news release from ALPLA.
The facility, representing an estimated $10-15 million investment, is slated for completion in 2025 and will support ALPLA’s training initiatives, including an apprenticeship program designed to provide education, training, and career pathways in manufacturing.
To mitigate costs, the company requested approval of their Iowa Economic Development Authority High Quality Jobs Program application, which required a local match. The Iowa City City Council voted to support the initiative in the form of a five-year tax break on a portion of the new value created, and to approve ALPLA’s application to the High Quality Jobs Program since it promotes economic development in Iowa City.
The 35,000-square-foot facility is expected to include ALPLA technologies and equipment, such as electrical and mold workshops, offering a training environment aligned with industry standards. McComas-Lacina Construction, an Iowa City-based commercial contractor, is leading construction on the project, with plans to expand the Hub by adding three additional stories in the future.
“Iowa City stood out as a strategic location for our new Learning & Development Hub due to its close proximity to our plants using key technologies such as IBM and EBM, as well as our strong partnership with Kirkwood Community College,” said ALPLA HR Director Mirna Morcos, in the release. “This new facility will not only train apprentices at the ground level but also support a robust pipeline of skilled workers at every level to drive the future of manufacturing. We’re eager to create a lasting impact by playing a vital role in upskilling and reskilling the future workforce of our country.”
The Learning & Development Hub will primarily focus on workforce development, aiming to upskill and reskill individuals for manufacturing roles. ALPLA’s North America apprenticeship program, launched in Summer 2024 in partnership with Kirkwood Community College and the Industry Consortium for Advanced Technical Training (ICATT), includes 12 apprentices training in Mechatronics. This three-year program offers apprentices a paid educational experience, a salary, a free Associate of Applied Science degree from Kirkwood, German Certification through ICATT, and a pathway into a stable career with ALPLA.
ALPLA has a workforce of around 23,300 and produces custom packaging systems, bottles, caps, and molded parts at 196 locations across 47 countries.
