A task force will meet later this week in Des Moines to discuss how to encourage more Iowans to go to college or get additional training. Fewer than half of Iowa adults have a college degree or some sort of technical certification beyond a high school diploma. Beth Townsend is director of Iowa Workforce Development agency.
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Iowa Governor Terry Branstad recently set the goal of having 70 percent of Iowa’s workforce getting technical training or going to college after high school. Townsend says educators as well as business and labor leaders have agreed to serve on the task force.
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The group will address particular concerns about how minorities, disabled Iowans and former prisoners are able to get the training they need to secure jobs in the future. The “Future Ready Iowa Alliance” will meet for the first time this Friday. The governor has asked this task force to come up with a “strategic plan” by October 31st of NEXT year.
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