Iowa STRONG Initiative Unites Community Colleges, Iowa Department of Education and Iowa Workforce Development to Build Workforce Pell-Eligible Programs
The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded $10,800,000 to a program focused on expanding short-term training programs and developing Workforce Pell-eligible programs at Iowa’s community colleges.
Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, this sixth round of Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants funding is awarded to statewide community college systems, or a consortia of community colleges to ensure effective development and expansion of the new programs and support the statewide coordination that is necessary for successful implementation of Workforce Pell Grants.
Iowa’s project, named Iowa STRONG (Systems, Training, and Resources for Opportunity, Navigation, and Growth) is a united effort between Iowa’s community colleges, the Iowa Department of Education, and Iowa Workforce Development (IWD). Hawkeye Community College will manage statewide implementation of the program, which aims to develop more than 50 Workforce Pell-eligible training programs in advanced manufacturing, construction and skilled trades, and healthcare by 2030.
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) will receive $817,445 over four years through Iowa STRONG to expand short-term training tied directly to workforce needs. The funding will support 11 new or enhanced programs and is expected to serve 362 students. EICC will receive the largest subrecipient award among the participating colleges.
The work starts with programs employers are already asking for. In the first year, EICC will strengthen training in manufacturing maintenance, entry-level CNC, CDL A and residential HVAC installation. Employers will help shape the training, so students build skills and earn credentials that connect directly to jobs in the region.
The grant will also help EICC create clearer pathways from short-term training into college credit, strengthen career navigation and advising, and make it easier to track student completion and employment outcomes. Additional programs planned through the initiative include process technology, advanced maintenance, welding, industrial safety and generative AI.
Iowa STRONG will also enhance IWD’s wage record reporting infrastructure, conduct employer outreach, and support statewide data integration and outcomes reporting.
“Students shouldn’t have to choose between getting to work quickly and continuing their education,” said Ashlee Spannagel, EdD, EICC vice chancellor for workforce development.
“This grant helps us create more pathways that do both. Students can gain skills employers need now, earn credentials that lead to good jobs and have a clear path to continue their education when they’re ready.”
“We’re grateful to our community college partners across Iowa for the work that went into securing this investment and for the collaboration that will make these opportunities possible for students statewide,” said Bryan Renfro, PhD, EICC chancellor.
The funding significantly contributes to national efforts to rapidly and effectively meet the hiring needs of employers, while also filling critical gaps in high-demand sectors, supporting skill gains, and worker mobility. These awards also break down existing silos between education and state workforce systems, with improved data integration, a key component of this round of funding.
For more information about Iowa STRONG, contact Constance Grimm, GPC, at 319-296-4439 or constance.grimm@hawkeyecollege.edu.