Riceville company part of new state innovation fund

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Riceville company is one of the first 13 recipients of a new state fund designed to help employees receive postsecondary training and education to acquire new skills.

The company, Iowa Contract Fabricators, will partner with Riverland Community College in Austin and Albert Lea, Minnesota, to offer welding training.

The Riceville company, a part of McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing, is short 20 welding positions.

McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing is part of McNeilus Companies, a leading manufacturer of refuse collection vehicles, concrete mixers and batch plants in North America.

A matching grant through the state’s new Future Ready Iowa Employer Innovation Fund will help pay for the Riverland Community College’s weld training trailer to be onsite at the Riceville company to provide three welding classes for eight people per class.

During the training, students receive 95% of the base rate of full welders pay. Trainees then receive on-the-job-training to meet the requirements to be promoted to welder. The goal will be for the class to consist of 20% diverse or underrepresented people who face barriers to employment.

The company expects to draw employees from northern and central Iowa, including Charles City and Mason City.

“This model has proved successful in other locations,” according to the company’s application.

Gov. Kim Reynolds recently announced the first 13 recipients of the Future Ready Iowa Employer Innovation Fund. This first round of grants will distribute more than $400,000 in funds.

“The Employer Innovation Fund drives innovation in meeting the workforce challenges of today and tomorrow,” said Reynolds. “These public-private partnerships address barriers for Iowans looking to get the training they need for a life-changing career.”

The purpose of the grants is to provide opportunities for working Iowans to earn non-credit and for-credit postsecondary credentials leading to high-demand jobs in the state.

Beth Townsend, director of Iowa Workforce Development, said, “Employers are a critical part of reaching our Future Ready Iowa goal of having 70 percent of Iowans with postsecondary credentials by 2025.

“The Employer Innovation Fund is unique because it empowers employers to find creative ways to strengthen their local workforce and build upon Iowa’s talent pipeline,” she said.

The second round of Employer Innovation Fund applications began Sept. 4 and will close on Nov. 8, 2019. Employers, community leaders and others can apply by submitting a proposal for implementing a creative solution to their local workforce needs.

Other recipients of the initial round of state fund grants are:

• Ruan and Des Moines Area Community College — three students for Code DSM training.

• Four Oaks Family and Children’s Services — 30 youths in a program to learn about financial responsibilities, promoting family stability.

• Kirkwood Community Colleges and Iowa City-Cedar Rapids (ICRIowa) — targeting 60 high school students for postsecondary education credit and work-based learning targeting high-demand occupations working with local employers.

• New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative — 10 scholarships to students for their Delta V coding program as part of their Diversity Tuition Award Program.

• Central College-Pella Talent Pipeline Apprenticeship School — provide mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities after high school.

• Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque — provide child care support for up to 50 students obtaining training at Northeast Iowa Community College in high-demand certificate programs in construction, health care, manufacturing and others.

• Oskaloosa School District and area companies — provide transportation for students to Indian Hills Community College for education and training in high-demand fields.

• Franklin County Development Association and Buresh Buildings, La Luz Hispana, a Latino outreach center, and North Iowa Area Community College — increase awareness and understanding of high demand jobs in the area by addressing misconceptions and to provide funding support such as books, childcare, fees, tools and transportation.

• Mahaska Health Partnership — identify three current high school students to be trained as medical laboratory assistants with guaranteed positions after training.

• The Well, a non-profit organization based in Pella and Knoxville, partnering with local manufacturers — enable training for people who have struggled to maintain a job through program support for education, finances and substance abuse, for up to 20 people.

• TMC Transportation, in partnership with Youth Shelter and Services in Story County — provide paid training and employment including 6 CDL training program positions, 2 paid internships for Story County high school students and 2 paid logistics internships for Story County high school students.

• Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine, partnering with area groups — provide intensive 6-week training programs in welding and certified nursing assistant.