Iowa community colleges to share nearly $13 million
The United States Department of Labor announced last week a major grant supporting skilled technical job training in Iowa. The initiative known as the Iowa-Advanced Manufacturing (I-AM): A Talent Success Strategy for the 21St Century Workforce was awarded $12,951,165.
The I-AM consortium involves all 15 Iowa community colleges, including Kirkwood Community College. The schools will collaboratively build training capacity at Iowa’s community colleges by developing and awarding certificates, diplomas and associate’s degrees in the following signature programs: welding, machining, industrial maintenance, industrial automation, manufacturing technology, robotics, and transportation and logistics.
In addition, coursework in these programs will be aligned with third-party certifications, including the NCRC™, AWS, NIMS and MSSC, which are part of the National Association of Manufacturers-endorsed Skills Certification System. As a result, more than 3,000 individuals across the state of Iowa will be given the opportunity to earn a college credential and industry-recognized certifications in a shortened time frame, making them eligible for high-demand, high-wage employment opportunities and launching them on a career pathway in advanced manufacturing. Moreover, eight American Welding Society Accredited Test Facilities will be established throughout the state.
Kirkwood worked directly with more than 15 regional manufacturing employers to ensure that the I-AM initiative addresses and meets the skill needs of the manufacturing industry.
Kirkwood started working with regional manufacturing companies in Spring 2011, gathering input on Kirkwood’s I-AM project. This feedback is helping to establish new career pathway programs and an Industrial Automation program at Kirkwood that will provide a trained workforce to meet the needs of those local employers.
“There is a shortage of trained personnel for many jobs across the manufacturing sector right now,” said Paul Hess, Advanced Manufacturing Sector Board chair. “Working closely with Kirkwood, we can help address the technical skill-shortage that exists in our region, and the college can work to train students to meet local industry needs.”
Hess said there is currently a large demand for basic and high-tech skilled workers, in career fields like material processing, automation, welding and many others.
“At Kirkwood we work hard to identify the needs of our local employers, and to provide them with trained employees,” said Kirkwood Industrial Technologies Dean Jeff Mitchell. “The Industrial Automation program we’re putting together will specifically address the needs of the advanced manufacturing sector in our area.”
“Community colleges across the state will now be able to leverage these funds to help fill workforce shortages,” added Hess. “It’s important that we start filling these jobs so our companies can grow and more people can find work.”
The Advanced Manufacturing Sector Board supports Kirkwood’s career pathway system, KPACE, that support individuals’ abilities to advance over time to successively higher levels of education and employment, helping them gain financial stability along the way. The program weaves together basic skills training, workplace readiness training, academic learning and credential attainment.
The award to the I-AM consortium is part of the Department of Labor’s announcement of $500 million in grant awards for the second round of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) program. Kirkwood Community College’s award is for $870,000 to be expended over two-years.