Lunch & Learn with the Chamber: Work-Based Learning

The Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce hosted Iowa Workforce Development yesterday morning for a Lunch & Learn about work-based learning. Work-based learning allows young people to learn skills on the job with a local employer, whether through pre-apprenticeships, earn and learn pathways, internships, transitional employment, and more. 

According to Business Engagement Liaison Kathy Leggett, work-based learning is a growing want in Iowa. “But when local chambers and district schools are calling businesses to host an internship or apprenticeship, they are not fully equipped to handle these requests. So we are creating resources and an infrastructure to help businesses set up work-based learning opportunities.”

Representatives from Grinnell area private and public colleges, local businesses, and non-profit organizations gathered to learn about current successful models of local work-based learning models, including within the healthcare sector. She also walked through a step-by-step plan to set up a structure for creating opportunities for high school students, college students, and young adults.

“Work-based learning can also be a pipeline to hire permanent employees,” says Leggett, “especially for adults who cannot step out of a full-time job, are looking for a career change, or need to gain more skills.” In particular, Leggett emphasized that it could be hard to recruit a qualified candidate to move and stay to work in rural Iowa, particularly in high demand occupations. 

“For sectors like the healthcare industry — with a lot of demand for specific skills — work-based learning can help equip people already living in your communities. They are often willing to be paid through the training and stay to work full-time afterward.” During the Chamber’s Lunch and Learn, Leggett walked through their website for resources, including AI prompts to create details for internship projects, questions to consider when crafting a training plan, and more for local businesses to jump right in.

To access similar sessions, become a member of the Grinnell Chamber today: https://www.grinnellchamber.org/join/. Thank you to our attendees today, representing Grinnell College, Hawkeye Lock & Security, JM Consulting, Poweshiek County Extension Office, Iowa Valley Community College District, and McCue and Associates LLC.