Press Release
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests more than $1 Million to Support Workforce Training in Iowa
Contact: Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
Thursday, August 13, 2015
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a more than $1 million grant to Southeastern Community College (SCC) Keokuk Campus in Southeast Iowa to build a workforce training center. According to grantee estimates, more than 750 students will receive skills training in the industrial maintenance and technology sectors, and more than 135 students will be placed within new industries in the region over the next nine years.
“The Obama Administration has undertaken unprecedented efforts to support the skills development of our workforce,” said Secretary Pritzker. “As part of the Department of Commerce’s ‘Skills for Business’ initiative, this EDA investment announced today will provide vital training for students and workers throughout Southeastern Iowa, preparing them with the skills needed to fill 21st century jobs.”
EDA’s investment will help construct a new building to house the school’s industrial maintenance and technology (IMT) program on the Keokuk campus. The IMT program is designed to encourage job growth and business expansion in the region by bringing critical skills education needed by local businesses for continued operation, innovation, and expansion. According to the grantee, the current facility space cannot meet current and projected needs. The new building will include everything needed to serve existing demand and provide incremental capacity to serve future growth in the IMT program.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The Economic Development Administration marks 50 years of public service, leading the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.