Funds part of $15 million grant applied for by consortium of community colleges
Cedar Rapids, Iowa (October 8, 2014)-Kirkwood Community College will receive nearly $1 million in federal grant money as part of a larger $15 million grant awarded to all 15 of Iowa’s community colleges. The funds will be used to by Kirkwood to further develop Information Technology programs as well as create new pathways for students in the field.
The award was the result of an application for funding from a consortium of all 15 community colleges in Iowa which sought to build training programs in Information Technology, Healthcare, Utilities and Manufacturing. It will enable 45 new training certificates for these career areas to be established across the state.
According to Kirkwood Continuing Education and Training Services Vice President Kim Becicka, the grant means satisfying a major need in the Creative Corridor.
“Iowa’s Creative Corridor has critical workforce challenges, particularly in the career fields supporting the Information Technology and Computer Simulation industry cluster,” said Becicka. “This grant will directly impact this regional workforce need by expanding our capacity to serve more students in state-of-the-art simulations centers with certificates, diplomas and associate degrees aligned to workforce skill gaps.”
In addition to developing new Information Technology programs and pathways, the funds will be used to create state-of-the-art simulation centers and computer labs for students seeking high-demand IT careers within the Corridor. The grant will also help provide academic support services for students in IT programs, ongoing training and professional development for instructors, enable the college to support the development of an apprenticeship model to train workers in the field, and help low-income, low-skilled individuals achieve the education they need for jobs in the industry.
The grant awarded to the consortium was one of 71 given out to colleges across the nation as part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) federal grants. The award is believed to be the largest TAACCCT grant awarded to the state from the U.S. Department of Labor. The funds will be dispersed over a four-year period which began on October 1.