Initiative to address Iowa’s manufacturing skills gap

 

By Joe Gardyasz

 

An estimated 5 percent of U.S. manufacturing positions go unfilled because companies can’t find workers with the necessary skills.

 

To address this so-called skills gap in the state, the Iowa Innovation Gateway, an economic development collaboration of seven Central Iowa counties, has partnered with the Manufacturing Institute and the Lumina Foundation to bring a new national skills certification program to Iowa.   

 

On Jan. 12, officials with the Manufacturing Institute, an arm of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), will meet with representatives from Iowa community colleges at Accumold LLC in Ankeny to discuss how to implement the Manufacturing Skills Certification System.

 

“The goal of the meeting is to provide technical assistance to the community college system about implementing the certification system,” said Denise Rathman, executive director of the Iowa Innovation Gateway, whose goals include developing a regional talent development system for Central Iowa.

 

Iowa is among 10 states that received a $10,000 planning grant from the Lumina Foundation, an Indianapolis-based foundation focused on expanding access to higher education, to help launch the training program. The state is seeking funding from the U.S. Department of Labor for the program.. Rathman said the certification program will focus on training in welding, metalworking, manufacturing engineer and production technologist positions. 

 

An estimated 5 percent of U.S. manufacturing positions go unfilled because companies can’t find workers with the necessary skills.

 

To address this so-called skills gap in the state, the Iowa Innovation Gateway, an economic development collaboration of seven Central Iowa counties, has partnered with the Manufacturing Institute and the Lumina Foundation to bring a new national skills certification program to Iowa.   

 

On Jan. 12, officials with the Manufacturing Institute, an arm of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), will meet with representatives from Iowa community colleges at Accumold LLC in Ankeny to discuss how to implement the Manufacturing Skills Certification System.

 

“The goal of the meeting is to provide technical assistance to the community college system about implementing the certification system,” said Denise Rathman, executive director of the Iowa Innovation Gateway, whose goals include developing a regional talent development system for Central Iowa.

 

Iowa is among 10 states that received a $10,000 planning grant from the Lumina Foundation, an Indianapolis-based foundation focused on expanding access to higher education, to help launch the training program. The state is seeking funding from the U.S. Department of Labor for the program.. Rathman said the certification program will focus on training in welding, metalworking, manufacturing engineer and production technologist positions.