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Project Iowa reports early ARPA-funded results: 13 Story County graduates, about 75% employment rate
Summary
Project Iowa briefed the board on an ARPA-funded workforce program that has graduated 13 participants in Story County and reports a roughly 75% employment rate among graduates; the program provides virtual cohorts, one-on-one coaching, loaner laptops and hotspots.
Project Iowa director of programs Gabby Cox told the Story County Board of Supervisors that the ARPA-funded workforce program has begun producing local outcomes and is serving residents with barriers to employment.
Cox said 13 Story County participants have graduated from the program and an additional seven to eight residents have received services though not all completed the full cohort because of language barriers; she estimated a total of about 25 Story County residents have been reached. Cox said the program’s graduates show an approximately 75% employment rate so far and that the program provides follow-up coaching and maintains contact with graduates for about a year.
Cox described program services including virtual cohorts, individualized one-on-one coaching, loaner laptops and mobile hotspots to help participants without internet access pursue job searches and training. She said Project Iowa conducts outreach through libraries and partner agencies, runs cohorts that include participants from surrounding counties, and expects to serve an additional roughly 20 Story County participants through the remaining ARPA funding period.
Supervisors asked for ZIP-code breakdowns of participants and urged the program to provide more employer follow-up to improve retention support. Cox said she would supply ZIP-code information and noted that much of the program delivery is virtual; the board asked staff to track outcomes as cohorts continue.
