• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Business / Community College coalition to benefit Iowa’s manufacturers

Community College coalition to benefit Iowa’s manufacturers

April 25, 2013 By Matt Kelley

The leaders of Iowa’s 15 community colleges have announced a new partnership with companies to improve the state’s manufacturing workforce.

Kirkwood Community College President Mick Starcevich says the manufacturing sector is growing in Iowa and badly in need of qualified employees. “We’re going to try to close the skills gap, so the employers have the right jobs for our students when they enroll and when (companies) hire them,” Starcevich said.

The new initiative was unveiled Thursday with a press conference at the Iowa City headquarters of ACT, the nonprofit that administers the college assessment exam and other education and career programs.

Starcevich said a key component of the Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Consortium involves the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), which employers use as a screening tool for hiring workers. Iowa Workforce Development and ACT are partnering to provide the NCRC assessments at no cost, according to Starcevich. Currently, the battery of three tests costs $37. Beginning June 1st, the testing will be free.

A $13 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor is helping fund the consortium. Kirkwood has already used a portion of the grant money to purchase new equipment for classroom training. Starcevich said the machinery at Kirkwood is designed to prepare students for direct entry into the manufacturing workforce without additional training.

As of March 2012, Iowa’s manufacturing firms supplied 215,600 jobs to Iowans, representing 10.6% of the state’s total employment.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Business, Education, News

Featured Stories

Bill would limit placement of solar arrays on farm ground

Marquette casino moving to land, leaving only 2 casino boats in Iowa

Reynolds signs her ‘school choice’ bill into law

Governor Reynolds touts 2024 Iowa Caucuses in Inaugural Address

University of Iowa grad presiding over U.S. House Speaker vote

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

No coaching changes coming for Iowa football

Iowa State names new receivers coach

No. 2 Iowa visits No. 1 Penn State in wrestling dual Friday night

Iowa’s Clark brings increased exposure to women’s basketball

No. 18 Iowa State women visit TCU

More Sports

Archives

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC