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Local workforce push: CDA training funds and school district seeks YST grant to fund coordinator
Summary
CDA staff reported roughly $1.2 million in Drive-to-5 funding and new state/DEED commitments to expand adult training; the school district said it is applying for a second YST grant to fund a workforce coordinator and automotive training amid declining enrollment and a focus on employer partnerships.
The CDA announced a series of workforce initiatives and funding commitments intended to expand training opportunities countywide. Joe of the CDA said a Drive-to-5 grant of $1.2 million was used with the goal of training about 135 adults in Scott County (150 have participated so far), with additional courses planned in boiler licensing, CNA and CNA-related training, and commercial driver’s licenses. Joe said the state legislature allocated $700,000 and DEED contributed $500,000, bringing roughly another $1.2 million in support that will be coordinated through Scott County and the chamber.
"We received from you that was, 1,200,000, and we were hoping to, train at least a 135 adults in Scott County," the CDA representative said, summarizing the program’s goals and current enrollment.
Separately, the school district provided an update highlighting declining enrollment and its continuing emphasis on workforce pathways. The district described outreach and partnerships led by its workforce coordinator, Lindsay Schutte, and said it is applying for a second Youth Skills Training (YST) grant focused on automotive programs. The district said the YST grant has previously helped pay for the coordinator position and that losing the grant would require finding alternative funding to maintain the role.
Students and district representatives participated in recent community events to highlight school-business connections and the district's workforce efforts. The district emphasized that workforce coordination helps link students with local employers and that securing the grant is important to sustain those partnerships.
Why this matters: workforce training and school-business partnerships are central to the local labor pipeline. The CDA’s funding and the district's YST application could expand training capacity and employer connections, affecting both adult learners and high-school students seeking career pathways.
