NICC wins jobs grant

Northeast Iowa Community College has received a lead role in the implementation of a nearly $12.7 million federal job training and workforce development grant.

The money comes from the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College Career Training initiative, a federal program created in the 2010 Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act and administered by the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration.

The $12,695,959 federal grant provides funding for a new "Bridges2Healthcare" consortium that NICC, along with seven other community colleges, will use to support workers in obtaining the necessary knowledge, skills and credentials to achieve well-paying employment in health fields.  Eight other workforce partners and 25 employers throughout Iowa are also partners with NICC.

The tri-state consortium includes NICC, Rochester Community and Technical College (MN), Minnesota State College—Southeast Technical (MN), Riverland Community College (MN), Western Technical College (WI), Chippewa Valley Technical College (WI), Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (WI), and Hawkeye Community College (IA).  Funds from the grant will train participants for jobs in the healthcare industry.  All colleges in the educational partnership will work toward expanding and streamlining processes for offering students credit for prior learning and experience.