The state of Iowa will receive $1 million through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Workforce Data Quality Initiative to improve the quality and availability of Iowa’s workforce data, Sen. Tom Harkin announced today.

According to a press release from Harkin’s office, the funding will be used to expand Iowa’s longitudinal database of workforce data, used to facilitate research projects aimed at pinpointing the effectiveness of workforce programs.

“Part of the reason Iowa fared better than other states during the recession is our commitment to investing in our work force,” Harkin said in the release.