2008 Woodie Awards
Green collar jobs growing in Iowa
Matt Monroe
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: News
Iowa is trying to become the leader of renewable energy in the United States. To accomplish this, Gov. Chet Culver and the Iowa Legislature established the Iowa Power Fund that will pay $25 million per year for four years.
Of that annual appropriation, $2.5 million is being used for the Iowa Community College Workforce Training and Economic Development Fund. Money from the fund will be used to train and educate workers for the growing field of renewable industries, or green collar jobs.
Recognizing the increasing demand for skilled workers, Kirkwood Community College is partnering with Indian Hills Community College and using these new funds to develop the Iowa Biofuels Training International program (IBTI).
"This is our effort to respond to this rapidly growing new industry sector by developing new curriculum and training programs for the biofuels industry," said Steve Ovel, executive director of Governmental Relations.
Students who plan to enroll in Kirkwood's IBTI certified programs can expect cutting edge training in the biofuels field. "Many new high paying jobs are being created by these new industries and Kirkwood graduates will be well positioned to fill many of them," Ovel said.
Economic experts are projecting the development of more than 240,000 jobs by the biodiesel and ethanol industries by the year 2015.
When asked about Kirkwood's push for biofuel training, Kirkwood student Kate Madsen, art education major said, "It's good because renewable energy is growing in the United States which means higher enrollment for Kirkwood."
Of that annual appropriation, $2.5 million is being used for the Iowa Community College Workforce Training and Economic Development Fund. Money from the fund will be used to train and educate workers for the growing field of renewable industries, or green collar jobs.
Recognizing the increasing demand for skilled workers, Kirkwood Community College is partnering with Indian Hills Community College and using these new funds to develop the Iowa Biofuels Training International program (IBTI).
"This is our effort to respond to this rapidly growing new industry sector by developing new curriculum and training programs for the biofuels industry," said Steve Ovel, executive director of Governmental Relations.
Students who plan to enroll in Kirkwood's IBTI certified programs can expect cutting edge training in the biofuels field. "Many new high paying jobs are being created by these new industries and Kirkwood graduates will be well positioned to fill many of them," Ovel said.
Economic experts are projecting the development of more than 240,000 jobs by the biodiesel and ethanol industries by the year 2015.
When asked about Kirkwood's push for biofuel training, Kirkwood student Kate Madsen, art education major said, "It's good because renewable energy is growing in the United States which means higher enrollment for Kirkwood."
Be the first to comment on this story