Marshalltown and the surrounding communities have long understood the value of partnerships. Nowhere is that more evident than in the success of Iowa Valley’s 260 workforce training programs. These programs, especially the Industrial New Jobs Training Program known as 260E, have played a major role in strengthening our employers, supporting our workers, and keeping rural Iowa competitive.

Iowa’s legislators, local businesses, and community members have each had a hand in making these programs succeed for more than forty years. Their continued engagement and advocacy are essential as conversations at the state level consider significant changes to how workforce training is delivered.

The 260E program has a long track record of transforming opportunity. Between 2014 and 2024, Iowa’s community colleges delivered approximately 300 million dollars in training to 40,000 new hires statewide. Here in the Iowa Valley district, employers of all sizes rely on these programs to grow, modernize, and remain competitive. Because 260E is funded by the withholding taxes from newly created jobs, rather than annual state appropriations, it is both self-sustaining and responsive to economic growth.

At Iowa Valley, the success of the 260 programs comes from local partnership. Workforce development staff work directly with businesses to plan training strategies, coordinate instructors, schedule courses, and manage compliance so employers can focus on growth. Rural firms and small businesses, many without large administrative departments, depend on this hands-on support.

While the 260 programs have fueled local success, upcoming discussions at the state level pose potential challenges. One proposal would replace Iowa’s proven 260E model with a capped statewide grant program. Such a shift would concentrate more services in the Des Moines metro, where larger employers can compete for limited grant dollars, leaving rural regions at a disadvantage. It would also shrink the scale of training available and shift more administrative burden onto businesses.

A system that has served Iowa well for decades should not be replaced without careful consideration of the impact on rural communities. Iowa Valley’s employers depend on a responsive model delivered close to home. Our communities rely on a workforce system that supports towns of every size, not just the largest population centers.

Iowa Valley is grateful for the legislators who have supported these programs, the businesses who partner with us, and the community members who champion education and workforce opportunity. As conversations continue at the state level, now is the time for all of us to engage. Contact your legislators and share what these programs mean for your business, your workforce, and your community.

Together, we can ensure that Iowa’s workforce system continues to serve the people and places that make our region strong.

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Dr. Anne Howsare Boyens is the president of the Iowa Valley Community College District.