MUSCATINE — As Gov. Kim Reynolds listened to a presentation regarding the “Fueling the Future” pilot project at Muscatine Community College Wednesday afternoon, she commented this was the kind of project that she could pass along for other districts to implement.
The project, which targets adult family members of elementary school children receiving weekend “backpack” food assistance, provides a six-week “earn as you learn” upscale training that educates the adults for high demand jobs. Since the project was implemented, courses have been offered in welding, computer numerical controls, and certified nursing certificates. The point of the program is to reduce the number of barriers to student completion.
“It’s really innovative and I just want to tease other communities and say ‘look what they have done,’” Reynolds said.
Reynolds commented that she was impressed to see a roomful of stakeholders in the program as she entered the student center building at the college. Several local businesses, as well as educators, members of local government, and graduates of the program gathered to discuss the benefits and support the program has offered to the area.