WLC seeks increase in FY 2023 request from Jones Co.

     Tris Langdon and Kristine Bullock, both with Kirkwood’s Workplace Learning Connection (WLC) met with the Jones County Supervisors on Dec. 21 to provide an update of programming and request funding for Fiscal Year 2023.

     WLC makes its funding request based on the population of each county it serves. The 2020 population estimate for Jones County was 20,646. For FY 2022, the request was $2,046.60, or 10 cents per capita. For FY 2023, WLC is asking for an $18 increase, or $2,064.60.

     These funds help to support WLC staff salaries and cost of services, as well as leveraging other forms of financial support such as grants and school district contributions.

     For FY 2022, WLC saw a revenue stream of $750,520.24. That’s broken down by: Kirkwood Community College, 7 percent; state and federal grants, 54 percent; Grant Wood AEA, 5 percent; K-12 service fees, 26 percent; and 8 percent from local grants and county contributions.

     “This funding supports our staff and allows our liaisons to make the connections they do,” said Bullock. “We appreciate your support.”

     Langdon asked the board of supervisors if they were all aware of the many services WLC provides for youth in Jones County. Within the last school year, WLC has been able to set up job shadows at the Monticello airport. Youth from WLC’s seven-county region did group tours of Central Park and ITS (Infrastructure Technology Solutions).

     “We have four places now in Jones County where we can have group job shadows,” praised Langdon.

     A career fair was also held at Monticello High School. Mock job interviews took place at Midland High School, where students also created their own resumes. Middle school students in Jones County toured 12 different business locations.

     “We’re a one-point stop for schools and businesses wanting to engage,” summarized Bullock. “That’s our goal. We want to create equitable access to our services.”

     During FY 2021, many of WLC’s services were done virtually due to the pandemic. This fiscal year, those same services merged into in-person and hybrid. Bullock said they found that they can reach more people through virtual options, whether there’s a pandemic going on or not.

     “It’s an opportunity for schools to have more access,” she said.

     WLC works with students from sixth grade through their senior year of high school.

     For the 2020-21 school year, WLC saw 1,520 job shadows, 111 internships, and 18,788 students participate in their events. Locally for Jones County students, there were 1,099 students taking part in events such as guest speaker days, worksite tours, career fairs, and financial literacy fairs. Fifty-nine students took on job shadows, and 15 participated in academic internships.

     Bullock said these experiences open students’ eyes to the potential careers in Jones County.

     In addition, 38 percent of the students who have taken part in an internship are offered additional employment opportunities through that business/company, especially due to the recent workforce shortage right now.

     Supervisor John Schlarmann thanked WLC for their services, and praised the partnership with the Kirkwood regional center in Monticello.

     “It’s a kickstart to college,” he said.

     “With the strength Kirkwood has, it’s a really good asset for students,” said Bullock.

     Supervisor Joe Oswald said WLC offers great programs, in an effort to bring kids and young adults back to Jones County to live and work and raise a family.