Future Ready Iowa Alliance sets membership and first Meeting

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Director of Iowa Workforce Development Beth Townsend announced that the Future Ready Iowa Alliance membership has been set and will meet for the first time at noon on Friday at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens.

In August, Gov. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Reynolds and other leaders announced creation of the Future Ready Iowa Alliance by signing Executive Order 88. The Executive Order charges the Alliance with developing and recommending a strategic plan by Oct 31, 2017, to accomplish the Future Ready Iowa goal of 70 percent of Iowa’s workforce having education or training beyond high school by the year 2025. 

Gov. Branstad also announced that Lt. Gov. Reynolds and Dan Houston, chairman, president and CEO at Principal, will lead the Future Ready Iowa Alliance as co-chairs. The group will be comprised of representatives who are committed to strengthening Iowa’s talent development to enhance opportunities for students, adults, employers and communities. ABI members are strongly represented on the alliance, including: ABI Board Chair Lori Schaefer-Weaton, past board chairs Mary Andringa and Charles Sukup and current ABI board member Steve Dust, along with several other representatives of ABI member companies.

Alliance members appointed by the governor and include representatives from business and industry, labor, pre K-12 and higher education, workforce development advocates, economic development professionals, students, nonprofits and various other community leaders. They will help take steps to close the skills gap and empower Iowans with rewarding careers and Iowa employers with the workforce they need to grow and innovate. Members come from 25 Iowa counties, helping to ensure this important dialogue continues in communities across the state. Click here to see a full membership list.