NEWS

Community Colleges partner to serve MIGP's 9-county region.

What do you get when you bring 85 leaders together from across a nine-county region?  Partnerships!  In 2008, Mid Iowa Growth Partnership aligned with Iowa Workforce Development and engaged in an application process for a Regional Innovation Grant through the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, which was awarded. The grant was used to bring leaders together to plan for the future of the region. Through this process, a relationship between three community colleges has been fostered. Iowa Lakes, Iowa Valley and Iowa Central Community Colleges all serve counties within the Mid Iowa Growth Partnership region, so it is a natural fit for the three colleges to work together.  The community colleges have embraced the region's plan that has been created and are in the process of applying jointly for the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Community College and Career Training Grant through the Department of Labor.  The purpose is to increase our capacity to serve workers who are eligible for training under the TAA for workers program. The focus of the plan surrounds the areas of healthcare, advanced manufacturing and entrepreneurship. These three areas will specifically support activities of the Talent Development and Entrepreneurship sub committees which were created through the region's planning process.
 
A second project in the works is implementation of the National Career Readiness Certificate.  Iowa, now more than ever, needs a strong workforce to overcome today’s economic challenges.  The Career Readiness Certificate program provides an objective measurement of workplace skills that is accepted nationally, connects hiring needs of employers with skilled individuals seeking careers, and promotes a common language for employers, individuals and educators. Iowa WORKS-North Central Iowa, and Iowa Central Community College are partnering to connect employers with qualified employees. This is just the beginning of some great strengthened partnerships that will help to grow the economy for our region.

View more of MIGP's Spring Newsletter