{"id":4162,"date":"2026-03-11T10:02:56","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T15:02:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.niacc.edu\/niacc-minute\/?p=4162"},"modified":"2026-03-11T10:02:57","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T15:02:57","slug":"niacc-awarded-1-million-to-expand-career-academy-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.niacc.edu\/niacc-minute\/2026\/03\/niacc-awarded-1-million-to-expand-career-academy-opportunities\/","title":{"rendered":"NIACC awarded $1 million to expand career academy opportunities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

$1 million each was awarded to North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC), Northwest Iowa Community College, and Eastern Iowa Community Colleges; $776,655 awarded to Des Moines Area Community College<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four Iowa community colleges, including NIACC, have been awarded nearly $4 million in competitive grants through the state\u2019s Career Academy Incentive Fund to empower more students with pathways to postsecondary success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NIACC President Joel Pedersen shared, \u201cThis investment is a powerful step forward for NIACC and the communities we serve. Expanding our career academies means more high school students will have the opportunity to earn college credit, explore high demand careers, and gain hands-on experience while still in school. We\u2019re grateful for the state\u2019s support as we strengthen partnerships with local school districts and employers to build a skilled workforce and create even more pathways for students to find their future right here in North Iowa.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Career Academy Incentive Fund creates and supports partnerships among community colleges, schools, local businesses and community stakeholders. These academies provide students with a variety of opportunities and pathways to achieve postsecondary success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Career Academy Incentive Fund is an innovative program tailored to regional workforce needs, providing high school students with opportunities to gain valuable experience, connect with local employers and earn industry credentials and college credit,\u201d Gov. Reynolds said. \u201cI commend this year\u2019s awardees for their dedication and leadership in expanding opportunities so more Iowa students have the opportunity to prepare for high-demand careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Career academies play a vital role in expanding access to high-demand and often resource-intensive career and technical education programs for Iowa students. They offer valuable opportunities for skill development, career exploration, work-based learning and professional training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAcross Iowa, career-connected learning is changing lives, empowering communities and strengthening economies,\u201d said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. \u201cThrough the hard work of our students, educators and employers, more learners are attaining work-based learning experiences and college credit while in high school than ever before. We are proud to partner with these education and industry leaders in connecting the classroom to the workplace, empowering all students with multiple pathways to high-wage and public-good careers here in Iowa.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work-based learning attainment is at an all-time high, with 45% of all Iowa high school seniors from the class of 2025 achieving at least one work-based learning experience while in high school. Student participation is up nearly 20 percentage points over the last two years, increasing from 31.7% in 2024 and 25.5% in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To increase access to career academy programs in high-demand fields through new or expanded career academies and regional centers, North Iowa Area Community College (Mason City), Northwest Iowa Community College (Rock Rapids), and Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (Clinton) will each receive grants of $1 million and Des Moines Area Community College (Ames) will receive a grant of over $776,655.<\/p>\n\n\n\n