The alliance of business leaders and educators assigned the job of developing strategies to prepare tomorrow’s workforce in Iowa is hearing from its co-chair, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds. She says the group is on track to meet its stated goals.
The state received a grant from the National Governors Association in 2014, and used it to create the Future Ready Iowa initiative. It’s made up of around 60 representatives from business, education, labor and government. The group’s primary goal is to recommend methods to ensure by 2025, 70 percent of high school graduates in the state receive additional education or training. Reynolds says the goal is in sight.
“We have new numbers from Workforce Development," she says. "We’re at about 58 percent of Iowans who meet the criteria.”
Future Ready Iowa is divided into five working groups. Reynolds says their efforts are showing signs of success.
“I’m very confident with the people we have in this room, and with the can-do attitude I’ve seen in Iowa, I believe we will reach the goal we’ve set out,” she says.
The deadline for specific recommendations from members of the Future Ready Iowa initiative is Oct. 31.