A new program at the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Carroll campus has garnered the attention of a local development corporation. Provost, Joel Lundstrom, provided more details about the computer languages program to the Carroll Area Development Corporation (CADC) Board of Directors, who then pledged up to $7,500 for the start-up. This, says CADC Executive Director, Shannon Landauer, ensures that all students in the Carroll market have the same opportunity to participate while at the same time strengthening the county through economic development possibilities. The DMACC team has worked with area high schools to develop the curriculum. Lundstrom says, “It is rare to find a program that is in high demand, may recruit new businesses to rural communities and that has the support of schools, community, and economic development groups.” Area high school students will be able to begin their junior year working in the computer languages program. According to Lundstrom, the first steps needing to be done are the hiring of an instructor and getting students signed up for participation for implementation as early as this next school year. According to the CADC leadership team, this opportunity for area students will provide careers well above median wages and create a talent pipeline for existing employers who experience recruitment challenges. CADC President, Jim Auen, says we have seen our state government addressing workforce issues through Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Future Ready Iowa initiative. “It is critical to educate students on local employment opportunities while they are in the process of making decisions for the future,” Auen says.
