Iowa Lakes Corridor Dev. Corp. Reminds Businesses & Industries Of Various Workforce Programs
Iowa Lakes Corridor Dev. Corp. Reminds Businesses & Industries Of Various Workforce Programs
April 29, 2022Steve Schwaller
(Spirit Lake)– Officials with the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation say they want to make sure businesses and industries are aware of various programs available to assist them in recruiting workers. A recent survey of business and industry executives in the four-county area served by the agency shows finding employees continues to be a major challenge. JoAnn Follon of the Corridor says there’s a wide range of programs out there, including those with area schools and community colleges…
“Career days, work place visits, J terms, robotics. There’s an a-symmetric program that’s out there; also the No Boundaries program; work place learning. That’s huge getting these young people within these businesses so they have a better understanding of what factory work is today and what potential advancement possibilities are there. Also, apprenticeship programs. They’re great programs as well.”
She says there are also programs through the state…
“Those might be Future Ready Iowa, taking your existing workforce and scaling those individuals up with more skill sets. Home Base Iowa, bringing veterans into your workforce, because they actually do have those work ethic skills that businesses are looking for. Also the Iowa Prison Enhancement Program. This is a program that we had Ron Clark here. He’s from the Rockwell City prison. He came from a manufacturing background and he has developed a program with Iowa Workforce within the prison system. Every year 6,000 prisoners are released into society and this actually gives them the skill set that they can start with to find that job.”
Follon says another untapped area for those looking for workers is the under-employed and retirees. She also urges businesses and industries to take advantage of a program through the Iowa Workforce Innovation Network, or IWIN…
“So it is also a free assessment that they can meet with the businesses; they can study the community, the business, what the community needs are, and then they can develop a program to assist that business as far as marketing the specific types of individuals.”
Follon says anyone wanting more information on the programs should contact the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation office in Spencer.
