The Iowa Department of Education has announced an award to the North Iowa Area Community College for $1 million to construct a regional career academy.
The academy, which will be located at the Floyd County Fairgrounds, is a partnership among the Charles City, Nashua-Plainfield, Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock, Riceville, North Butler, Clarksville and Osage community school districts. The partnership will continue to create compassionate, competent problem solvers by empowering students to leverage their learning to prepare for the career opportunities of the future.
“This regional career academy will be an outstanding resource for Charles City students to explore 21st century careers that spark their future careers,” says Mike Fisher, superintendent. “We are proud to partner with NIACC to build this program so close to Charles City. The student engagement in these fields is already high, and we look forward to developing future activators through hands-on opportunities.”
The NIACC career academy will feature four academies in specific trade areas, including advanced manufacturing, construction trades, information technology, and health careers. Charles City students will earn both high school and college credit by enrolling in NIACC classes. Students will also gain access to 21st century educational materials at no cost to their families.
This award is the second Career Academy Incentive Fund award for NIACC. The first grant, received in 2020, was used to establish the John V. Hanson Career Center in Forest City. NIACC is duplicating the success of that effort with the new Charles City Academy.
NIACC continues to fundraise for the academy. Current plans call for the center to be open by the fall of 2023.