Education & Training

Advancement opportunities in the QC

With 40 colleges and universities within a 90-mile radius of the Quad Cities, we have a plethora of resources for training and education for those looking to enter into the ag manufacturing & food production industries.

These are just a few of the many institutions and programs that support employers in the QC in higher education and workforce development. 

  • Skilled Trades programs at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges and Blackhawk College, including Industrial Maintenance, HVAC, Electrical, Welding and CNC Machining.
  • Black Hawk College offers an Agriculture program with study areas such as Agribusiness Management, Agriculture Mechanics, Agriculture Production Technology, and Agriculture Transfer.
  • Eastern Iowa Community Colleges offers Agricultural Science, Agribusiness Management, Horticulture and Environmental, Health and Safety programs.
  • Augustana University has a Food Studies Experiential Minor, including studies pertinent to the issues of nutrition, food security and accessibility and sustainability.
  • St. Ambrose University offers programs in Industrial and Mechanical Engineering.
  • Western Illinois University programs in Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and Supply Chain Management.