Local industry is facing a challenge that’s too familiar – finding skilled, dependable workers who can step into critical roles and contribute from Day One. That challenge has echoed across boardrooms, job sites, and HR departments for years. Now it’s being met with a bold, community-powered solution.
At Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC), we’ve launched a new Process Technician program that answers the call for skilled process operators in our region. The nine-month, non-credit certificate kicked off Aug. 25 at the DeWitt Career Advancement Center, welcoming its inaugural cohort of seven students.
Together with our outstanding industry partners – ADM, 3M, and LyondellBasell Industries – and the Clinton Community College Paul B. Scharer Foundation, we designed a hands-on, fast-track training program and awarded every student in the first cohort a $3,500 scholarship and guaranteed interviews upon completion.
This is what workforce development should look like: responsive, strategic, and rooted in partnerships.
Our goal is to create a sustainable pipeline of talent that supports industry and helps students stay, work, and thrive in our region. From plant operations to quality control, these careers offer stability, advancement, and wages that support families. The median salary for these positions is around $57,000 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This program was built with our industry partners. We listened to their needs and co-created a curriculum that includes: workplace safety, applied chemistry, process equipment and instrumentation, lean manufacturing, automation technology and quality assurance.
Students like Shyanna Bogle, 18, from Camanche, Iowa, see this as a life-changing opportunity.
“It’s really exciting,” she said. “This program gives me the chance to stay local, learn valuable skills, and make a positive impact in the community.”
As regional demand for skilled labor grows, EICC stands ready to co-create more programs tailored to your needs. We’re also inviting local businesses to join a broader conversation.
This fall, we’re hosting a series of Business & Industry Forums to share results from our Workforce Training Survey and discuss what’s next:
- Wednesday, Oct. 1, Muscatine Career Advancement Center, 152 Colorado St., Muscatine.
- Friday, Oct. 3, DeWitt Career Advancement Center, 817 E Industrial St., DeWitt.
- Monday, Oct. 13, Clinton Career Advancement Center, 1000 Lincoln Blvd., Clinton.
- Thursday, Oct. 16, Scott Community College – Community Center, 500 Belmont Road, Bettendorf.
If your company is facing workforce challenges, please attend. All events run 7:30 a.m. – noon.
Let’s build the workforce of tomorrow, together. Save your seat and learn more at eicc.edu/forums.
(Ashlee Spannagel is vice chancellor of workforce development for Eastern Iowa Community Colleges.)
