Central College Receives Grant from Future Ready Iowa

by Central College

Pella, IA (05/09/2019) — Central College received $50,530 from the Future Ready Iowa Summer Youth Intern Pilot Program, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced. The program is for low-income students at risk of not graduating high school.

The award will allow high school youth to participate in a 10-week, high-demand career internship program in conjunction with Central, Pella Corporation, Precision, Inc. (PPI) and the Vermeer Corporation. The Iowa Association of Business and Industry is collaborating with Central to include one week of Business Horizons participation during the 10-week program.

"The Summer Youth Intern Pilot Program highlights how engaging work-based learning helps underserved students explore and prepare for rewarding careers," Gov. Reynolds says. "We want all students to have these life-changing opportunities that build connections to jobs and communities. This couldn't happen without outstanding public-private partnerships making this summer program possible."

Central was one of five nonprofit organizations and education institutions that received awards totaling $248,367. The summer programs will prepare students for post-secondary education and training in high-demand careers. The program offers a work-based learning model to provide students with real-life work experiences to teach employability skills.

Central also is providing education on leadership, team building, financial literacy, community service and civic engagement. Participants will have the opportunity to earn one semester hour of college credit. More than 100 students will be served through the Future Ready Iowa Summer Youth Intern Pilot Program.

This grant program was created under the Future Ready Iowa Act to develop Iowa's skilled workforce and improve the lives of Iowans. The initiative aims to ensure 70 percent of Iowans in the workforce ages 25 to 64 have education and training beyond high school by the year 2025.

Central College of Pella, Iowa, is a private, four-year liberal arts college. Central is known for its academic rigor, leadership and character development, global experiential learning, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and sustainability education, athletics and service. For more information about Central College: www.central.edu.