The Iowa Skilled Worker and Job Creation fund supports worker training and job creation efforts. The allocation received by the Iowa Department of Education allows Iowa’s community colleges to serve an increased number of Iowans from all social and economic backgrounds to help them acquire the skills and industry-recognized credentials needed to secure gainful employment.

Skilled Worker and Job Creation Fund Summary 2022

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The Accelerated Career Education Infrastructure Program

The Accelerated Career Education (ACE) Infrastructure Program was established by Iowa Code 260G. ACE funding must be used on Qualified Projects. Capital Projects consist of "vertical infrastructure," defined by Iowa Code 8.57 to include "only land acquisition and construction; major renovation and major repair of buildings; routine recurring maintenance; all appurtenant structures; utilities; site development; recreational trails; renewable fuel infrastructure programs and debt service payments on academic revenue bonds issued in accordance with chapter 262A for capital projects at board of regents institutions. "Vertical infrastructure" does not include operational expenses or leasing of a building, appurtenant structure or utility without a lease-purchase agreement." Renovations and Major Repairs are defined in 2018 Iowa Acts, chapter 1163, division II, section 55, subsection 1, paragraph C as including, "life, health, and fire safety needs, including compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act."

Iowa Community Colleges 260G ACE Infrastructure Report FY22

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Gap Tuition Assistance Program

The Gap Tuition Assistance Program provides funding to community colleges for tuition assistance to applicants to enable completion of continuing education or short-term, non-Pell eligible training programs for in-demand occupations.

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Pathways for Academic Career & Employment Program

The Pathways for Academic Career and Employment (PACE) Program funding is to be used to implement a simplified, streamlined, and comprehensive process, along with customized support services, to enable eligible participants to acquire effective academic and employment training to secure gainful, quality, in-state employment.

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Workforce Training & Economic Development Fund

The Workforce Training and Economic Development Fund has become an important source of financing for community college new program innovation, development, and capacity building, particularly for career and technical education. The monies in the Workforce Training and Economic Development Fund may be used to support the following community college programs: Career Academies; Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs; Entrepreneurship Education and Small Business Assistance; and General training, retraining and educational initiatives for targeted industries. There are also other programs with separate funding sources which can be supplemented through WTED. These include: Accelerated Career Education (ACE) Infrastructure (260G); GAP Tuition Assistance Program (260I); Iowa Jobs Training (260F); National Career Readiness Certification (NCRC); National Advanced Manufacturing Certification (NAM); and Pathways for Academic Career & Employment (PACE) (260H).

2022 Workforce Training and Economic Development Fund Annual Progress Report

2022 WTED Fund Summary

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