Sheldon, Iowa — Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon has been given a million-dollar grant to open a facility in Rock Rapids.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education have announced that four Iowa community colleges have been awarded nearly $4 million in competitive grants through the state’s Career Academy Incentive Fund (CAIF) to empower more students with pathways to postsecondary success. Northwest Iowa Community College (NCC) was one of these colleges and has been awarded $1 million to support the development of a new Regional Center in Rock Rapids, Iowa, to house four academic pathways, called “Career Academies.”
Reynolds says that the Career Academy Incentive Fund is an innovative program tailored to regional workforce needs, providing high school students with opportunities to gain valuable experience, connect with local employers, and earn industry credentials and college credit. She commended this year’s awardees for their dedication and leadership in expanding opportunities so more Iowa students have the opportunity to prepare for high-demand careers.
With support from the CAIF grant, the Rock Rapids Regional Center will offer career academy pathways. Each pathway will provide one or more industry-recognized credentials.
• Agriculture: OSHA 10-Hour and Iowa Pesticide Applicator License
• Business: Microsoft Office Specialist
• Education: Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter and State of Iowa Paraeducator Certification
• Healthcare: Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter, Dependent Adult Abuse Mandatory Reporter, Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), First Aid Certification, CPR Certification, and Registered Pharmacy Technician (RPhT) Certification
Northwest Iowa Community College officials say they moved forward with the grant proposal for the Rock Rapids Regional Center following extensive collaboration with business and industry partners, analysis of regional labor market data, advisory committee input, and demonstrated student interest. Education and Healthcare pathways were selected due to sustained workforce demand across the region. Business was identified based on the strong presence of banking, finance, and accounting careers in Lyon County and the proximity to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a regional banking hub. Agriculture was chosen in response to strong support from local industry leaders seeking expanded access to hands-on technical training in ag-related fields.
NCC has worked closely with partnering school districts — including Central Lyon, George-Little Rock, Sibley-Ocheyedan, and West Lyon — to complete Memorandums of Understanding and align programming with regional needs. College leaders have also engaged Lyon County business and industry partners to help guide planning for the new center.
Dr. John Hartog, President of Northwest Iowa Community College says they are very grateful to Governor Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education for their continued investment in career and technical education. He says the support allows NCC to strengthen partnerships with their local schools and industry leaders while expanding hands-on learning opportunities for students across rural northwest Iowa. He says they are opening doors of opportunity and helping students build the skills they need for successful futures close to home.
The Rock Rapids Regional Center is expected to begin offering Career Academy coursework in fall 2027, with construction completion and full implementation anticipated in 2028. Final site details will be shared as the project continues to move forward. In addition to Career Academy programming, the facility is designed to provide future flexible space for potential adult education instruction, emergency services training, and non-credit workforce training through regional industry partnerships.
They say that together with the Marcus Regional Center, scheduled to open in fall 2027, these sites reflect NCC’s long-term commitment to expanding access to hands-on career pathways across rural northwest Iowa.
Additional details will be shared as planning progresses. To learn more about NCC Career Academy programs and view a video overview, visit: https://nwicc.edu/academics/programs-of-study/career-academy
Click here for the full press release.
KIWA Staff Photo
