Promoting Credentials for Our Community
IALR’s Advanced Learning efforts aim to strengthen the community’s workforce to earn industry recognized credentials. These credentials will encourage current companies to expand and attract new business prospects to the area. It also leads to higher wages and improved opportunities for community workers. The Advanced Learning team works tirelessly to create partnerships to support educational and workforce training initiatives that benefit both the employer and employee.
Certified Work Ready Community Initiative
IALR promotes regional partnerships of businesses, educators and workforce developers to address the skills needs of regional employers. As part of the group’s efforts, members continue to develop and expand on the ACT Certified Work Ready Community (CWRC) initiative. ACT Work Ready Communities empowers states, regions and counties with data, processes and tools that drive economic growth. The CWRC initiative began as a pilot program to align workforce and education to meet the unique economic needs of the region.
REACH Partnership
The Regional Engagement to Advance Community Health (REACH) Partnership represents the next iteration of the Community Health Worker (CHW) Project, which was originally designed to improve health outcomes for residents at the highest risk for chronic disease, increase the number of individuals who seek appropriate healthcare services, and create a career pathway for healthcare workers. REACH will continue this work and will expand it to address the systematic barriers preventing positive health outcomes and create a system of care that provides equitable access to all residents in the region. REACH also provides holistic support through the clinical Community Paramedic role and the non-clinical CHWs, who work to address the social determinants of health.
Manufacturing Advancement Training Programs
IALR’s Manufacturing Advancement division offers a comprehensive advanced level training program at its Gene Haas Center for Integrated Machining. Completers of the college-level precision machining program enter this elite, advanced program to train in a full-scale manufacturing work flow cell to support a realistic, fully-integrated learning experience, preparing them for leadership positions within the industry. Curriculum is aligned with NIMS Level III master-level CNC Machining skills. The program is led by experienced and nationally renowned staff and has garnered the attention as a benchmark model for precision machining workforce development.
