Training Your Employees

Kirkwood Community College

Kirkwood Community College is acknowledged by the United States General Accounting Office as a model for workforce development and training in recognition of the superior workforce development program developed and implemented in the Iowa City area and beyond. This finding applauds the education, training and outreach efforts of the community college and area businesses.

Kirkwood Community College Training and Outreach Services provides business counseling and training services to help businesses achieve world-class performance through improved business practices, a highly-skilled workforce and appropriate use of technology. Learning Resources Network (LERN), a leading continuing education association, awarded Kirkwood continuing education and employment training efforts full certification and accreditation. Only three of the nearly 1,200 community colleges in the U.S. have a LERN certification designation.  

Funding Employee Training

The Iowa Industrial New Jobs Training Program (INJTP-260E)

The Industrial New Jobs Training Program provides businesses expanding Iowa’s workforce with funding for new employee training. This program is not found anywhere else in the nation. In the Iowa City area, Kirkwood Community College administers and finances the program through the sale of bonds. Depending on wages paid, a business can divert 1.5 or 3 percent from Iowa state withholding taxes generated by the new positions to the community college to retire the bonds. This structure provides essentially a no-cost training since the bonds are retired with dollars that would otherwise have been paid to the state as withholding taxes.  

Another supplemental benefit of INJTP is the corporate income tax credit.  This credit is available to a company that has entered into a New Jobs Training Agreement and has increased Iowa employment by at least 10 percent. The maximum current credit available is $1,320 per employee.

Iowa Jobs Training Program (IJTP-206F) 

Not only will companies expanding or relocating in the Iowa City area receive financial and technical assistance, but they also receive assistance as the businesses continue to grow and prosper. The IJTP assists businesses that invest in retooling to re-train currently employed workers. 

To help pay for training, companies can apply for loans or forgivable loans up to $50,000 for a three-year period. This program also provides training funds for small companies creating new jobs, including assistance for screening, skills assessment, testing and custom-designed training programs.

The IJTP provides training services to current employees of eligible businesses located in Iowa. Eligible businesses can work with Kirkwood Community College, which will assess training needs, determine funds availability and provide training. For participating businesses, the advantages include valuable employee training at reduced- or no-cost.

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