Iowa’s community colleges have invested nearly $1 million in program-related equipment in the past year as part of a 3-year initiative to boost the state’s capacity to train workers for advanced manufacturing jobs, according to a new report. The Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Consortium on Monday reported how it has used a $13 million U.S. Department of Labor grant made to the 15 community colleges in 2012. The consortium said that 27 of 32 planned programs have been launched statewide, and that more than 800 participants have been served. The community colleges have a grant goal of serving nearly 2,800 individuals. To date, 123 individuals have received training certificates or degrees as a result of the programs. The federal grant will  fund training and education programs for the next two years.