Hawkeye Community College to lead Workforce Pell program expansion initiative

Hawkeye Community College will lead a statewide initiative between community colleges and state organizations to establish short-term training programs and expand Iowa’s Workforce Pell offerings.

The Waterloo-based community college announced Monday it has been named the lead institution in a new initiative with the goal of establishing more than 50 Workforce Pell-eligible programs in Iowa by 2030, funded by a $10.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.

“The federal investment in Workforce Pell is a huge step in creating a highly skilled workforce our employers need and preparing Iowans for high-demand and high-paying jobs,” said Todd Holcomb, president of Hawkeye Community College, in a news release.

Iowa STRONG, or Iowa Systems, Training, and Resources for Opportunity, Navigation, and Growth, is a collaborative project between Iowa’s community colleges, the Iowa Department of Education and Iowa Workforce Development.

The Workforce Pell programs to be developed under the grant-funded initiative will span advanced manufacturing, construction, other skilled trades and healthcare, according to the college.

Iowa Central Community College was the first institution in the U.S. to receive federal approval for its emergency medical technician program to become Workforce Pell eligible. Workforce Pell allows students in short-term training programs, between eight and 15 weeks, to qualify for federal financial aid, with award amounts prorated based on program length.

Hawkeye Community College serves as the primary recipient and fiscal agent for the four-year grant, Executive Director of Public Relations and Marketing Mary Pat Moore said in an email, and 11 out of the state’s 15 community colleges will also receive direct funding to develop new programs or update existing ones to meet Workforce Pell program requirements.

The community college’s HVAC, CDL, CNC machining, construction and pharmacy technician programs will be its focus for Workforce Pell alignment through the initiative, the release stated.

Iowa Workforce Development will also use grant funds to bolster its wage record reporting infrastructure, connect with employers and “support statewide data integration and outcomes reporting,” the release stated. The Iowa Department of Education will work with community colleges to ensure program compliance for Workforce Pell.

“With the Iowa STRONG project, we are not only expanding short-term pathways into high-demand careers, but also establishing the robust data infrastructure needed to track outcomes, measure success, and ensure our training continues to meet the evolving needs of our workforce,” Holcomb said in the release.