WHO Radio News

WHO Radio News

Iowa's largest radio news team covers the top local, state, and national stories with experience and dedication. Hear news at the top and bottom of the hour. Breaking news and severe weather, at once on AM 1040 WHO. Contact WHO Radio Newsroom: (515) 245-8887 Email: News@WHOradio.com

 

State of Iowa Awards $4 Million In Grants For High-Demand Career Paths

Vocational class, learning to repair diesel engine

Photo: Getty Images

(Des Moines, IA) -- The state of Iowa is awarding $4 million in competitive grants aimed at preparing high school students for future success. Iowa Central Community College, North Scott Community School District, Northwest Iowa Community College and Southwestern Community College will each get a $1 million grant to increase access to career academy programs in high-demand fields.

“Expanding career academies develops our workforce talent pipeline and provides high school students with opportunities to gain valuable experience, connect with local employers and earn industry credentials and college credit,” said Gov. Kim Reynolds. “I commend Iowa Central, North Scott Community School District, NCC and SWCC for their dedication and leadership in growing career academies that prepare students for high-skill, high-demand careers available here in Iowa.”

Iowa Central’s grant will be used to create a new regional center in Storm Lake that will serve students from five districts in northwest Iowa. North Scott Community School District is partnering with Eastern Iowa Community Colleges to establish a new regional center in Eldridge that will expand career academy programming to students in four surrounding districts. NCC will work with five rural school districts to establish a new regional center in Sioux Center. SWCC will establish a new regional center in Mount Ayr to serve students from five school districts in southwest Iowa. 

Students will have access to CTE programs and state-of-the-art equipment in high-demand fields, including advanced manufacturing, agriculture equipment technology, automotive repair, construction, electrical maintenance and automation, engineering design, health care, information technology, teacher preparation and welding.

The Career Academy Incentive Fund was established by a 2019 law that extends a statewide penny sales tax for school infrastructure, called Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE), through January 2051. At least $1 million will be awarded annually to support career academy partnerships among community colleges, school districts, business and industry, Regional Planning Partnerships, Area Education Agencies and others to increase student access to college programs, state-of-the-art equipment and career paths in Iowa’s in-demand fields.

More information is available on the Iowa Department of Education’s website


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content