A stronger region tied to community colleges; opportunities include free training and upskilling

Our regional workforce is built, in part, on community college campuses. Graduates from Black Hawk College (BHC) and Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) are providing you care in hospitals, ambulances and healthcare centers throughout the region. They are highly skilled welders, machinists and more who are elevating our region’s legacy and reputation as a manufacturing powerhouse. They are building cybersecurity walls and cutting-edge virtual reality applications. They are AG operators who are feeding us and our world. And so much more.

It is Community College Month and the impact these educational institutions have on our community is immense, and we are a stronger region for all they do. Our local college administrators, advisors, instructors and professors build our workforce by recognizing, guiding and encouraging students of all ages to embrace their interests and achieve their passions. Black Hawk and Eastern Iowa continually innovate, collaborating with businesses and the Quad Cities Chamber to create new programs that meet employer needs. They listen and lead students to resources to ensure the training and education they are seeking is financially achievable. Showing students there is a path to achieve their goals is a mission Amy Herrig, Adult Admissions Coordinator, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) takes very seriously. Businesses throughout the region can contribute to this mission, too.

Future Ready Iowa’s Last-Dollar Scholarship provides adults the opportunity to earn a certificate or degree, learn a trade or upskill in high-demand fields at no cost. In turn, it provides your business the opportunity to support and encourage your workers to master current technology, cross-train, develop leadership skills and support their aspirations and career dreams at no cost to you. Just envision how a more highly skilled and educated workforce would benefit your business and elevate the products and services you provide.

Now, when attracting and retaining talent is so challenging, Iowa’s Last-Dollar Scholarship puts businesses that are unable to offer a tuition reimbursement benefit on a more even playing field with the companies it is competing with for workers and profit. All you have to do is promote it, and now during Community College Month, take the opportunity to do so.

“Businesses should think of it as an opportunity to help employees continue to grow and learn and what a great return for their company,” Herrig said.

The Last-Dollar Scholarship fills the gap of any remaining tuition after federal grants and eligible scholarships are applied. For adults who do not receive any federal or state financial aid, the program will pay the entire tuition. For adult learners (age 20+) they can attend full or part-time programs to adjust to their work schedules. They can earn a certificate, diploma, or associate degree through Eastern Iowa Community College in over 25 areas of study including Advanced Welding, CNC Machining, Cybersecurity and more.

“Technology changes so quickly,” Herrig said, adding that the scholarship enables employees to stay up-to-date and build new skills that bring immediate value to employers. “Upskilling can give workers more opportunities in their current position, and open new opportunities to them that they may never have thought of before, like management or supervision,” she said.

For employees who already hold a certificate or associate degree and are seeking to grow in other areas related to their profession and career, or beyond, EICC programs provide a path to achieve those goals. “As we learned during the pandemic, cross training is so important, especially in big organizations and companies. Let’s see how we can use this lesson to benefit us moving forward,” Herrig said.

The scholarship is available to Iowa residents attending community colleges or accredited private colleges that offer any of the 48 qualified programs of study.

QC, it’s where the region is already recognized for its highly skilled workforce - and many employees aspire to learn and do more. Pursuing additional education and training is a commitment that unveils their drive to contribute more to your business. Encouraging them to take that step demonstrates how much you support them and value their dedication, just as our community colleges do.

For more information on the Last-dollar scholarship available to EICC adult students, contact Amy Herrig.

For information on BHC programs and opportunities, contact Richard Bush, Dean of Career Programs.