Report to the Leadership Team for Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Visually Impaired

Report to the Leadership Team for Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Visually Impaired

Business and Industry Involvement

Iowa Workforce Development provides occupational projections by regions of the state. The cities identified by the Leadership Team as possible locations for regional centers fall within four service delivery regions:

Region 1:West Union, New Hampton

Region 2:Charles City

Region 7:Independence, Waverly Shell Rock

Region 11:Johnston, Ames, Ankeny, Indianola, Pell, Waukee

The information in this section of the report provides an overview of occupational projections by region and then also provides the observation and experience from IVRS direct service delivery staff as they work with business and industry in these territories. The reader is cautioned on the IWD information because it does not separate the data by city and some of the other towns in the region could be influencing the projections. Workforce information demonstrates that the majority of the jobs are in the middle skill areas (more than high school less than a four year degree) and yet there are not a sufficient number of applicants who demonstrate these skills for employment. Conversely the low skill occupations (high school diploma or less) have the fewest openings and the majority of applicants fit these skills levels. So the competition for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing in these low skilled occupations is much higher than in the middle skill occupations.

Region 1: West Union, New Hampton (includes Alamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties)

This region is projected between 2010 and 2020 to have an increase in estimated employment. In 2010 this region had an estimated employment level of 121,415 occupational openings and by 2020 will decrease to approximately 136,925, an employment change of 15,510 openings. The annual growth is anticipated to be about 1.3% or 1,615 new jobs per year and 2,845 replacement jobs. Total annual openings are projected at 4,460. The projected openings by occupation are as follows:

IVRS Direct Placement Experience:

The communities identified above in this region are covered by the Waterloo Area Office for IVRS. Staff report that West Union has very little vibrant business and the majority of individuals that IVRS serves from this community are advised that to obtain employment they will most likely have to relocate or commute. Students are highly encouraged to get a driver’s license if they desire to remain living in the community of West Union. IVRS staff report that they have developed employer accounts with a few businesses in New Hampton. These relationships are in ADM Alliance, Grainmill Feed, New Hampton Care Center, and Trimark.

Colleges: None

Region 2: Charles City (includes Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Mitchell, Winnebago, Worth counties)

This region is projected to have 2,210 annual openings between 2010 and 2020 growing from 62,115 estimated openings in 2010 to 69,145 in 2020. This employment change of 7,030 includes 1,460 replacement jobs and 750 new jobs. The projections are for the full area and may or may not be reflective of the actual city being considered for the project. The projections by occupation are as follows:

IVRS Direct Placement Experience

Charles City is served by the Mason City Area Office for IVRS and report a rich network of business and industry who are working closely with our staff on their labor needs. Strong networks have been developed and maintained in this community and business and industry is very receptive to creating opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Charles City High School is planning on developing a Transition Alliance Program where job training and placement services will be provided to students in transition; and students who are deaf and hard of hearing could participate in this program.

College Involvement:

There is a satellite campus in Charles City that is affiliated with North Iowa Community College. IVRS has approached the NIACC about developing a specialized program for technical skills that was unique to a particular industry, but the college was less than receptive. NIACC considers itself a feeder college to the Regents Institutions. However, they are closely connected to IWD as they staff a number of WIA positions employed by IWD.

Region 7: Independence, Waverly (includes Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, and Grundy counties.)

This region is projected to have 15,760 job openings between 2010 and 2020 growing from 113,075 in 2010 to 128,840 in 2020. The projections are for the full area and may or may not be reflective of the actual city being considered for the project. This growth is a 1.4% change increase with 1,625 annual new jobs and 2,665 annual replacement jobs. The 4,290 annual openings by occupation are as follows:

IVRS Direct Placement Experience:

The Waterloo Area Office covers the Independence community and reports some business involvement. This community does support new business and a coffee shop started by an individual with a most significant disability is heavily supported by the community. Many of the individuals who obtain their degrees commute to Waterloo/Cedar Falls for employment as it is only about 30 minutes west of Independence. A primary employer in Independence is the State of Iowa and a local education agency. This community has strong support from counseling services for individuals with mental health challenges. Fareway is the primary employer with whom IVRS has a business account.

Waverly is another community supported by the Waterloo office and the counselor reports some business engagement, but it continues to be built. Staff serving Waverly report employer accounts with Nestle USA, Terex, and GMT. The Waterloo Area Office consistently over the years is one of the top performers in the State of Iowa for placing individuals with disabilities into employment. While the last two years they have ranked second to the Mason City Area Office, these two offices with Dubuque tend to jockey the lead back and forth from year to year.

College: Waverly has a four-year college and a community college satellite. They offer traditional programming and have not demonstrated demand side programming initiatives. No college is reported for Independence, but it is only 30 minutes from Waterloo where most attend college. Waterloo has been very strongly affiliated with demand-side programming and connections reported with business and industry.

Region 11: Johnston, Ames, Ankeny, Indianola, Pella Waukee (includes Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Polk, Story counties)

This region will realize 18,025 total annual job openings per year with a growth of 74,015 from 2010 to 2020. The projections are for the full area and may or may not be reflective of the actual city being considered for the project. This is a 1.7% change with 7,560 new jobs created and 10,465 replacement openings. The occupational projections for these openings are as follows:

IVRS Direct Placement Experience:

This region is the West Central Area Office primarily, although Pella is the IVRS Ottumwa Office. Pella has a diversity of businesses from industrial (Pella Corporation) through educational (post-secondary education). However, IVRS staff report that the businesses that do hire IVRS job candidate do not always know they have hired a person with a disability. Staff report that is has been exceedingly difficult to network with businesses through direct placement efforts. This has been voiced by not only the current counselor but the counselor who served this territory prior to the current counselor’s assignment.

The West Central Area Office report that they have strong partnerships with many of the businesses in the communities listed outside of Pella. In addition to private corporations that are for profit, there are also strong relationships that have developed with governmental departments. An agreement has been reached with the State of Iowa that any individual who successfully completes an “internship” like experience arranged through IVRS will be considered for promotional job opportunities listed with the State of Iowa. This is significant because many jobs are listed for promotional hires only, so only internal candidate may be considered. In addition Ankeny will be involved in a Transition Alliance Program with IVRS next year; and the Des Moines Public Schools has a cooperative agreement for Project Search where students are trained in the health care field at Mercy Hospital. Students who are deaf who attend the schools with whom this project is developed (Hoover, Roosevelt, East and North) could also access the Project Search programming if accepted and decided upon by the IEP team. The WCAO has a great relationship with the Greater Iowa Partnership that is comprised of most businesses in the catchment area. The counselor who is strongest at placement will be retiring in December; although there are other counselors who provide this service directly as well.

Colleges: Des Moines Area Community College serves this area and there are additional opportunities through Drake and satellite programs affiliated with the University of Iowa. Iowa State University is located in Ames and there is a satellite college affiliated with DMACC in Ames. No specialized programming has been developed with these partnerships as of the date of this report and there has not been any activity related to demand side programming.

IVRS Recommendations: In considering the business connections and opportunities, while each region shows some growth, there are opportunities with some communities. The following would be the communities that would hold the most promise and have the greatest track record of working with individuals with disabilities over the years:

• Charles City
• Des Moines
• Ames
• Decorah
• Independence (although more limited than the above)

Communities that were not considered in the Leadership discussions but which have demonstrated strong business connections and employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities also include:

• Waterloo
• Mason City
• Dubuque

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