| Lee County receives $39,080 from Future Ready Iowa Innovation Fund for developing a Virtual Reality Welding Career Exploration Program that will target different types of welding skills and careers critical to the workforce in southeast Iowa. This program will not only target youth but adult learners as well and with a goal to reach more than 1,200 southeast Iowans.
Governor Kim Reynolds announced 13 awardees of the Future Ready Iowa Employer Innovation Fund, a matching grant designed to help employers carry out solutions to help their employees achieve postsecondary training and education. The purpose of the grant is to provide opportunities for Iowans to earn non-credit and for-credit postsecondary credentials leading to high-demand jobs.
The Employer Innovation Grant requires educators to work with industries to develop training for in-demand local careers. Lee County EDG partnered with Huffman Welding & Machine, Steffensmeier Welding & Manufacturing, Gregory Design and Manufacturing, Southeastern Community College, Keokuk Community School District, and Fort Madison Community School District. Students will experience welding via virtual reality and visit our local partner manufacturers to see practical welding and manufacturing technology applications.
The virtual welders will help train students as a stepping stone to the welding program at Southeastern Community College. “We’re excited to have contributed to this project as we believe in the efforts of showcasing career opportunities to students,” said Dr. Ashlee Spannagel, Dean of CTE & Workforce Development Southeastern Community College. SCC has a day and evening welding program that prepare students with advanced skills to enter a high-wage, in-demand career. |
