Iowa Workforce Development, IowaWORKS and Hawkeye Community College are using a Walmart Foundation Grant in the amount of $75,000.00 to introduce low-income Iowa women to construction jobs. According to the latest "PROMISE JOBS Employment and Wage Report", construction is the second highest paying industry for men enrolled in the PROMISE JOBS program. However, a demographic breakdown, by gender, of individuals working in this occupation indicates females represent only 2.3 percent of the workforce.
The grant covers the costs of bringing a specialized Hawkeye Community College construction equipment simulator along with a general instructor and assistant to each of Iowa's 15 IowaWORKS offices in 2016. The simulator is part of the "Six-Step Workshops," which allow women in the PROMISE JOBS program the opportunity to learn about non-traditional construction jobs and experience a hands-on simulator to operate construction equipment.
Since the grant gives low-income, Iowa women the opportunity to receive hands-on experience as well as labor market and general information on non-traditional occupations (NTOs) in Construction Trades, the hope is they they will move quickly into higher paying jobs, thus decreasing their need to access welfare supports and other human services programs. This program will run from January-June 2016 in the IowaWORKS locations across Iowa.
IWD Director Beth Townsend praised the public/private partnership, and said this initiative is an important step toward addressing Iowa’s skills gap. “This is a great opportunity for women to learn about good paying, available jobs in the construction industry,” said Director Townsend. “We encourage interested women to try their hand at operating heavy machinery in a safe environment. This program is not only a gateway to increasing the number of women in the construction field, but also a pathway to a challenging, good paying and sustainable career for women.”
Iowans operating the construction equipment simulator learned the controls, gauges and equipment systems in a safe, in-cab environment with professional supervision. Instructors answer questions and provide different environments in which students may operate equipment. Some of the scenarios include: Backhoe, Forklift, Excavator, Wheel Loader and various lifts. This opportunity is open to the general public.
Phone Number and Office Location Information
Waterloo: 1/12 – 1/15
Contact: Gina Robinson
Cedar Rapids: 1/26 – 1/29
Contact: Gina Robinson
Mason City: 2/2 – 2/5
Contact: Nicole Nelson
Council Bluffs: 2/8 – 2/12
Contact: Angela Dickey
Dubuque: 2/22 – 2/26
Contact: Gina Robinson
Burlington: 4/11 – 4/15
Contact: Kendra Schaapveld
Ottumwa: 4/18 – 4/22
Contact: Doug Brooks
Marshalltown: 4/25 – 4/29
Contact: Lynn Hickman
Davenport: 5/16 – 5/20
Contact: Kendra Schaapveld
Fort Dodge: 5/23 – 5/27
Contact: Linda Gray
Creston: 6/27-6/28
Contact: Angela Dickey
Carroll: 6/29-6/30
Contact: Angela Dickey
Des Moines: 7/11 - 7/15
Contact: Doug Brooks
Spencer: 7/18 – 7/22
Contact: Linda Gray
Sioux City: 7/25 – 7/29
Contact: Angela Dickey