Page 8 - June Newsletter 2018

IN THE

JUNE 2018

PREPARING WORKERS FOR SKILLED

JOBS TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE

VISION NORTH IOWA AND Mason City and Clear Lake worked that we have the skilled workforce
Future Ready Iowa are focusing together in 2017 on their own available so we have the employees
local and state resources on strategic plan called Vision North to complete our work. That includes
preparing workers for skilled jobs Iowa. It dovetails with Future Ready the other trades to finish projects,
today and in the future. Iowa, but focuses on local needs. like electricians, welders, and
bricklayers.
Future Ready Iowa is a state “One of the goals within Vision North
initiative to build Iowa’s “talent Iowa is having a skilled workforce, “The construction industry lost a
pipeline” to align with modern but it’s more encompassing than lot of workers from 2008 to 2010 in
job requirements. Its goal is for just that,” Schmit said. Vision North the last economic downturn, and
70 percent of Iowa’s workforce Iowa also includes action plans to we didn’t really get them back,”
to achieve education or training build a regional community, attract he explained. “So that’s why we’re
beyond high school by 2025. innovation and entrepreneurship, reaching out to schools.”
and promote the area as a
This is in line with predictions that destination for businesses. Patti Hanson, Regional Workforce
two out of three American jobs in Development Director at
2025 will require more than a high “One of the things where Future IowaWORKS - North Iowa, explained,
school education. The State of Ready Iowa aligns with Vision North “We can use Future Ready Iowa to
Iowa wants to focus attention on Iowa is to try to inform students support our local initiative. They
the need to prepare our workforce, looking for careers that there are may come up with programs to help
ultimately building a better different options out there. College us, such as helping people achieve
economy and a better place to live. is not for everybody, though it’s certifications.”
great for some.”
Gary Schmit, president of Henkel Hanson said the greatest local need
Construction in Mason City, served Both plans want young people for skilled labor right now is in the
on the Future Ready Iowa Alliance to know they can still have a construction industry, healthcare,
committee, which developed and good career without the time and and advanced manufacturing.
released a strategic plan in 2017 expense of a four-year degree,
for meeting that goal. The panel of according to Schmit. Alternatives “Vision North Iowa and Future
about 50 people, appointed by then such as community colleges, Ready Iowa are both geared towards
Governor Branstad, represented internships, apprenticeships, and building the talent pipeline. We have
both public and private sectors. certification programs can add to a common goal,” she said. “Vision
a person’s career training after high North Iowa will help us fill the
Schmit also is a board member school or even later in life. skills gap we see and focus on the
of North Iowa Corridor Economic industries and sectors specifically
Development Corporation. The Schmit sees firsthand in the here, and we can use Future Ready
North Iowa Corridor and the construction business how vital Iowa to help us reach those goals.”
Chambers of Commerce for this is for the region. “It’s important

CHAD SCHRECK SHAUN ARNESON KEN BALES HUNTER CALLANAN
PRESIDENT & CEO VP, EXISTING BUSINESS & PROJECT DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST COMMUNICATIONS & WORKFORCE
[email protected] MANAGEMENT [email protected] SPECIALIST
[email protected] [email protected]
North Iowa Corridor EDC 9 North Federal Mason City, Iowa 50401 NorthIowaCorridor.com