The Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) is the voice of Iowa business. It is Iowa’s oldest and largest business network, representing 1,500 businesses that employ more than 333,000 Iowans. 

ABI benefits members by advocating on their behalf at the Statehouse, connecting them with decision-makers to share ideas and services, and offering solutions and best practices for issues that affect their businesses.

ABI began in 1903 as a state manufacturers association. Today, approximately half of its members are manufacturers. ABI continues to be Iowa’s champion for the manufacturing industry by offering manufacturing-specific programming, peer learning, networking and promotion of manufacturing as a career of choice. 


IOWA ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES

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Iowa Community Colleges do more than educate students: they also serve as the workforce training partners of choice for local businesses, schools and communities.  By providing skilled workforce training, Iowa Community Colleges encourage economic development that affects the well-being of the entire State.  The data show that for every $1 invested in Iowa Community College education, $3.50 is returned to Iowa’s taxpayers.  

For more than 50 years, Iowa Community Colleges have provided a trained workforce to Iowa businesses, added to the Iowa Gross State Product, and increased student earnings.  Iowa businesses, through unique partnerships with Iowa Community Colleges, have access to highly-skilled individuals ready to fill in-demand jobs.  Iowa Community Colleges educate 40% of the students attending Iowa’s colleges and universities.  Following program completion, 83% of Iowa Community College students remain in Iowa and contribute to the local economy.  

Talk to your local Iowa Community College about how your business can take advantage of a skilled workforce pipeline and how students can access short term training to get a better occupation.  Talk to your K-12 school counselors about the great jobs in your area and how you can showcase your career opportunities to high school students.  

Iowa Community Colleges are proud to help students attain the high-quality training they need at a low-cost with assistance from state initiatives such as the Gap Tuition Assistance Program (GAP), Pathways for Academic and Career Employment (PACE), Work-Based Learning Intermediary Network, Workforce Training and Economic Development Fund (WTED), Iowa Skilled Worker and Job Creation Fund, and the Future Ready Iowa Last Dollar Scholarship.  These initiatives are integral to educate Iowa Community College students for high-demand careers.  Iowa Community College students are Future Ready!




IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (IEDA)

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For decades, a diversity of businesses have turned to Iowa’s advanced manufacturing industry to efficiently bring products to market. But to continue building on our successes, we must recognize the landscape is changing. New advancements in automation, data collection, robotics systems and additive technologies provide unique opportunities for manufacturing sector growth, while potentially disrupting long-standing business models, especially for many small and medium-size manufacturers (SMEs). 

  • Many SMEs are in the early stages of the manufacturing digitalization journey and can feel unsure of where to begin, so their progress has been slow. Therefore, developing strategies to accelerate the adoption and deployment of digital technologies must be a priority. 

  • Efficient supply chains are critical to original equipment manufacturers’ success. New business models will require a modern, digitally enabled supply chain.

  • Collaborations are increasingly important to help companies build new skills and capabilities. Sharing best practices and continued development of the manufacturing ecosystem is essential. 

  • Automation and robotics will bring about major shifts in occupations and skills. An adaptable and well-trained workforce will be vital to meeting new labor demands. 

To maintain a competitive advanced manufacturing sector, we must strengthen Iowa’s SMEs by helping them manage changes facing the industry. Toward that end, the Iowa Innovation Council has tasked with developing a plan to meet the following goals: 

  • Help SMEs develop digital strategies to improve products, processes, services and business models 

  • Increase use of digital technologies, including robotics and additive technologies

  • Enhance Iowa’s workforce through training, apprenticeships, internships and work-based learning projects

  • Support the development of regional manufacturing ecosystems

Iowa is fully committed to achieving these goals, not only for the benefit of our manufacturing partners, but to ensure our industry’s competitiveness long-term.





ELEVATE IOWA

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Elevate Iowa is a statewide, integrated marketing campaign to promote careers and educational pathways in advanced manufacturing. This initiative is directed by a coalition of all 15 Iowa Community College’s, the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, the private manufacturing sector and the State of Iowa’s Future Ready Iowa program. Elevate Iowa offers resources to the public and educational institutions to educate K-12 students and their families, unemployed/underemployed Iowans, along with Veterans about the opportunities in Advanced Manufacturing.