The Clarke County Development Corporation (CCDC), in cooperation with Southwestern Community College (SWCC), has launched a comprehensive regional workforce and employer training survey aimed at identifying both immediate workforce challenges and long-term training priorities among area employers.
The initiative is being led in partnership with the newly re-formed Industrial Technology Advisory Board, a regional workforce-focused partnership created to help align training opportunities with the evolving needs of manufacturers, industrial employers, businesses, and workforce leaders across Clarke County, Iowa.
The survey will gather direct input regarding workforce recruitment and retention challenges, leadership development, human resources training, workplace essentials, administrative skills, and technical and industrial workforce needs. The information collected will help guide future continuing education and workforce development programming through the SWCC Osceola Center and the ORBIT Center in Osceola.
Local leaders say the effort represents a proactive economic development strategy centered on supporting employers through workforce readiness, employee advancement, and accessible regional training opportunities.
“The future growth of our communities depends on our ability to understand and respond to the workforce needs of our employers,” said Andrew Clark, Executive Director of the CCDC. “This initiative is about listening to industry, identifying workforce needs, and building practical training opportunities that help employers recruit, retain, and develop their teams locally.”
A major focus of the initiative is the continued development and utilization of the ORBIT Center, Osceola’s dedicated industrial trades and workforce training facility. The center was established to expand regional access to hands-on technical training, safety certifications, industrial maintenance education, manufacturing skills development, and employer-driven continuing education opportunities.
The CCDC and the Industrial Tech Advisory Board also emphasized the importance of their collaboration with SWCC in helping bring expanded programming to Clarke County.
“SWCC has been an outstanding partner in helping us strengthen workforce development opportunities in our region,” Clark said. “Their collaboration through the SWCC Osceola Center and the ORBIT Center allows us to bring accessible, high-quality training opportunities closer to the employers and employees who need them most.”
Survey distribution to employers throughout the region launched on August 3rd, with results helping guide future workforce investments, training initiatives, and economic development strategy throughout Clarke County and south-central Iowa.