ABOUT Columns are the opinion of the author, and include both facts and the individuals personal perspective. Community members are encouraged to submit guest columns up to 600 words for consideration. Wed., January 06, 2021
How to close the workforce skills gap in Iowa
A digital engineering student at Kirkwood Community College s Washington County Regional Center in on Thursday, October 09, 2014. (Sy Bean/The Gazette) Kim Casko, Kate Moreland and Doug Neumann
Despite how it may feel, COVID-19 has not changed everything. For years, workforce challenges have been a top concern for Iowa’s business leaders. Now our economic recovery hinges on getting our workforce back to work with the skills to tackle new challenges. To do this, we will need to address two gaps preventing us from succeeding in an unknown future.
You Can Still Adopt a Johnson County Health Care Worker
Christmas may be over, but the giving continues through a Johnson County program seeking donations for workers on frontlines of the health care industry this past year.
Johnson County s Adopt a Health Care Worker program continues to seek gifts for about 120 of these men and women in the area. Healthcare workers can nominate themselves or each other on the program s website.
They get it, it s challenging to donate when we may be struggling ourselves, and if you wonder whether or not they appreciate it, KWWL spoke to one by the name of Lauri Riss. She s in the ambulatory surgeries department at the University of Iowa Health Care and said she received a beauty kit with lotions, soaps, and also a handwritten note. Something like this was really really sweet. It meant a lot that everyone is making sacrifices right now, it s not just health care workers . So your gift can be simple and will be very much appreciated.
ABOUT Columns are the opinion of the author, and include both facts and the individuals personal perspective. Community members are encouraged to submit guest columns up to 600 words for consideration. Fri., December 18, 2020
Incentives promote growth and opportunity for Iowa
This photo shows a view of the Iowa Capitol Building, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) Kim Casko, Kate Moreland Doug Neumann
Iowa businesses are hurting. With the obstacles of 2020, plus an economy that was already showing signs of challenging times to come, many businesses were left to slow down or worse, shut down.
But there is a road to recovery. It’s going to take collaboration and multipronged policy efforts from both parties and all government, as well as private enterprise know-how. Iowa must look at innovative and competitive strategies for recovery, while preparing for an unpredictable future. Recovery includes smart, targeted, and