Iowa Western Community College’s campuses in Atlantic and Clarinda are set to receive a significant boost in their skilled trades training programs, thanks to a $900,000 investment from federal funding. The investment, announced by U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, will be used to modernize the college’s Mechanical Technology space in Clarinda and transform underutilized space in Atlantic into a new lab dedicated to manufacturing, construction, electrical, and plumbing instruction.
Expanding Opportunities for Students
The expanded facilities will serve high school students earning dual credit, adults pursuing a new career, and workers looking to add new skills without leaving Southwest Iowa. According to Rep. Nunn, the investment will help address the issue of young people leaving small towns in Southwest Iowa to pursue careers in trades, only to never return. The new facilities will provide students with the opportunity to train for in-demand jobs in fields such as welding, advanced manufacturing, and apprenticeship-based learning.
Rep. Nunn stated, ‘In small towns across Southwest Iowa, too many young people who want a good-paying career in trades have had to leave home to get the training they need, and too many never come back. This investment means a kid in Atlantic or Clarinda can train to become a welder, electrician, plumber, or manufacturer right here at home — preparing for the jobs local employers across the region need filled today.’
Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.
