Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

New Partnership Aims to Prime Iowa’s Workforce Pipeline

  • 03/08/18

DES MOINES, IA – Gov. Kim Reynolds, the presidents of Iowa’s community college, and the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) signed a new agreement on February 28 that aims to grow work-based learning opportunities for businesses and students.

With more than 1,500 members in 99 Iowa counties, ABI serves clients and partners statewide, and many of its members partner with Iowa community colleges in workforce training and program development. Work-based learning involves a variety of opportunities for high school students, including job shadowing, apprenticeship, internships and career coaching, that introduce students to careers in high-demand areas.

"ABI and Iowa’s community colleges have many priorities in common; but perhaps none more so than the skilled workforce needed to grow our business partners and Iowa's economy, which in turn lifts the well-being of Iowa families,” said NICC President Liang Chee Wee, Ph.D., at the February 28 signing event of the new agreement. Dr. Wee was among several leaders invited to speak at the ceremony. Dr. Wee serves as chair of Iowa’s community college presidents and co-chair of a Future Ready Iowa Alliance committee.

"This signing today is to formalize our common focus on increasing work-based learning collaborations to prime our workforce pipeline,” added Dr. Wee. “Through affordable, quality, accessible and up-to-date education and training, we meet the needs of our communities. Most importantly, ABI and the 15 community colleges, through this consortium, affirm our strong and unwavering support of Governor Reynolds' Future Ready Iowa strategic initiative."

The Governor's Future Ready Iowa's goal is that 70 percent of all Iowans will have earned a post high school industry recognized certificate or other credential, or two- or four-year college degree that meets employer needs by 2025. More information about Future Ready Iowa is available at www.futurereadyiowa.gov.

Featured

  • Illinois District Boosts Security at High-School Stadium

    Richmond-Burton Community High School in Richmond, Ill., recently announced that it has completed the redesigned entrance to its high school stadium with a new focus on school security and community engagement, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects and Engineers on the project as part of District #157’s year-long facilities master plan.

  • Photo credit - Chuck Coates

    Florida District Modernizes Central Energy Plants at Two High Schools

    Flagler Schools, a public school district in Flagler County, Fla., recently partnered with Matern Professional Engineering to modernize the central energy plants at two of its high schools, according to a news release. The project is part of a larger, district-wide effort to reduce energy costs and operational expenses.

  • Image courtesy of Kahler Slater

    UW–Madison Announces Completion of Morgridge Hall

    The University of Wisconsin–Madison recently announced that construction is complete on Morgridge Hall, a new academic building, according to a news release. The facility opened September 3 at the start of the fall semester, consolidating the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences into a single facility for the first time.

  • Houston K–12 District Opens New Elementary School

    The Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (Lamar CISD) recently announced the completion of a new elementary school in a western suburb of Houston, Texas, according to a news release. Haygood Elementary School measures in at 110,000 square feet, has the capacity for 854 students, and is the first of three new schools scheduled to be built in the Cross Creek West community.