Iowa Community Colleges Showcase Successful Business Partnerships

Lawmakers urged to preserve state program that helps train new workers

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Representatives from Iowa's community colleges and their business partners gathered at the state Capitol on Tuesday to showcase their unique programs and partnerships, with some hoping to convince the Legislature to not eliminate a state program responsible for collaboration between business and education. The state's Industrial New Jobs Training (260E) Program, which helps Iowa businesses train new employees, was a focus of the event.

Why it matters

The 260E program is seen as vital in training Iowa workers, but the Iowa DOGE task force report and proposed legislation seeks to end the initiative. Community college leaders argue the program has been successful for over 40 years and should be updated rather than eliminated, as it provides an important economic development tool for businesses across the state.

The details

The 260E program helps Iowa businesses train new employees, with partnering businesses diverting 1.5-3% of state withholding taxes generated by the new jobs back to the colleges to retire the bonds. One section of House Study Bill 755 would eliminate the ability of community colleges to use withholding taxes to pay for the program. Community college leaders say this would negatively impact businesses that rely on the program.

  • The Iowa Community Colleges Day on the Hill event took place on Tuesday, March 4, 2026.
  • House Study Bill 755, which includes a provision to eliminate the 260E program, is slated for a House Ways and Means subcommittee meeting at 8:15 a.m. on March 4, 2026.

The players

Emily Shields

Executive Director of Community Colleges for Iowa.

Kim Didier

Executive Director of Des Moines Area Community College Business Resources.

Grace Swanson

Vice President of Human Resources at global micromolding company Accumold.

Steven Holt

Republican State Representative from Denison, Iowa, who is a proponent of the community college system.

Iowa DOGE task force

A task force that has proposed legislation to end the 260E program.

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What they’re saying

“It's been very successful for over 40 years, but things can always be updated, and we're very open to that conversation. We just would hate to see it end so suddenly.”

— Emily Shields, Executive Director of Community Colleges for Iowa (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

“It's not about us, it's about our businesses, and about having a full continuum of economic development tools available across the state.”

— Kim Didier, Executive Director of Des Moines Area Community College Business Resources (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

“Guaranteed, without that program, Accumold would not be as successful a business as it is, creating products around the world in medical and microelectronics.”

— Grace Swanson, Vice President of Human Resources at Accumold (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

“I would prefer to keep it locally at community colleges, where they know what is best for their communities. So sometimes saving $1 is still not the most efficient way to do things.”

— Steven Holt, Republican State Representative from Denison, Iowa (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

What’s next

The House Ways and Means subcommittee will meet at 8:15 a.m. on March 4, 2026 to consider House Study Bill 755, which includes a provision to eliminate the 260E program.

The takeaway

Iowa's community colleges have built successful partnerships with businesses across the state through programs like the 260E initiative, which has helped train workers and support economic development. As lawmakers consider changes to these programs, community college leaders are urging them to preserve these vital tools rather than eliminate them suddenly, in order to maintain the full continuum of resources available to businesses in Iowa.