Iowa lakes is the only two-year, degree-granting institution of higher education in a 2,900 square mile area of rural, northwest iowa

The existing aviation program serves a large percentage of the state of iowa and surrounding states. The proposed project aims to develop a high school aviation program, expand the growing drone program, and develop a rotary wing program. The iowa lakes mission is, to provide opportunities for quality lifelong learning and promote economic development for our communities. The aviation program has representatives working together to ensure northwest iowa has a skilled workforce, seeking out new standards-based activities, curriculum, materials, and professional development in robotics, coding, and drones, and identifying industry partnerships for students in stem fields.iowa lakes is developing programs that specifically relate to the growth of the aviation workforce. The existing aviation and airport management program has grown substantially in recent years, including becoming one of only 23 colleges in the country to host junior reserve officers training corps (jrotc) training under contract with the U.S. Air force. Having a solid foundation, the college hopes to expand our capability to form a pipeline from area high schools. The inaugural cohort, as described in the narrative, would serve 50 students from high schools in all five counties of the iowa lakes region.