Senator Tom Harkin announces $12 million federal grant to NICC

A consortium of community colleges, led by Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar, has been awarded a grant of $12,695,959 for targeted job training and workforce development. 

U.S.Senator Tom Harkin today announced the funding award from the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) initiative, a program created in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.  Harkin, as Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the Appropriations subcommittee on health, education and labor, played a pivotal role in the passage of that measure.

"With this funding, NICC will lead a consortium that provides the bridge to the growing health care industry in Iowa and surrounding states," said Harkin. 

Northeast Iowa Community College has developed a project called "Bridges2Healthcare" which will implement evidence-based strategies to support workers in obtaining the necessary knowledge, skills and credentials to achieve well-paying employment.  Hawkeye Community College (HCC) is also part of this consortium, along with community colleges in Minnesota and Wisconsin  25 employers are also partners in Bridges2Healthcare; employer partners will have jobs available for workers and will gain trained workers to fill those jobs.