Cooperative Agreement NGAWM001024

IOWA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE (IWCC), AN ACCREDITED TWO-YEAR PUBLIC COLLEGE LOCATED IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA, IS PROPOSING A 24-MONTH PROJECT TO EXPAND THE AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN WORKFORCE IN SOUTHWEST IOWA AND NEIGHBORING EASTERN NEBRASKA BY IMPROVING THE COLLEGES FAA-CERTIFIED AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN SCHOOL (AMTS). THE PROPOSAL ADDRESSES PROJECT AREAS A, B, C, D, E, AND F AS ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 625(D) OF THE FAA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2023 (PUB. L. NO. 115-254).PROJECT DREAM (DRIVE RETENTION AND EXPAND AVIATION MAINTENANCE) WILL AMPLIFY THE REGIONS AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN WORKFORCE BY 1) SUSTAINING AND ADVANCING OUTREACH AND RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGNS DESIGNED TO ATTRACT A DIVERSE POOL OF CANDIDATES 2) EXPANDING PROGRAM CAPACITY 3) ENHANCING STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES AND 4) IMPROVING THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE THROUGH UPDATES TO INSTRUCTIONAL EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY. THESE DEFINED GOALS WILL INCREASE AWARENESS OF CAREERS IN AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY (AMT) AMONG PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES. FURTHER, THEY WILL EASE THE TRANSITION TO CAREERS IN AVIATION MAINTENANCE FOR VETERANS, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND ADULT JOB SEEKERS FROM SPECIAL POPULATIONS HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED WITHIN THE INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS THOSE RESIDING IN ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED REGIONS. FINALLY, THEY WILL DELIVER FINANCIAL AND ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE TO CURRENT AMT STUDENTS, AND ENSURE PROGRAM GRADUATES ARE PREPARED WITH THE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND COMPETENCIES NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE MODERN WORKFORCE.IWCC IS THE SOLE APPLICANT FOR THIS PROPOSAL. THE COLLEGE WILL MAGNIFY EXISTING RECRUITMENT EFFORTS BY CONTINUING TO LEVERAGE THE RESOURCES OF ITS ON-CAMPUS VETERANS CENTER AND AREA VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS. THE COLLEGE WILL MAINTAIN ITS STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT (CBCSD) IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA, AND OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS (OPS) IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO ONGOING PARTNERSHIPS WITH IOWAWORKS IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA, AND HEARTLAND WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS IN OMAHA, NEBRASKATWO PIVOTAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE AS THE REGIONS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ENTITIES AND AMERICAN JOBS CENTERS.FURTHERMORE, PROJECT DREAM WILL FOCUS ON THE RETENTION OF THE PROGRAMS CURRENT STUDENTS. THE INITIATIVE WILL UTILIZE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS TO BRIDGE THE BUDGETARY GAP BETWEEN PROGRAM-RELATED FEES AND TRADITIONAL FINANCIAL AID. REFINEMENT OF EXISTING TUTORING, PEER MENTORING, AND AMBASSADOR PROGRAMS WILL SUPPLEMENT CURRENT COLLEGE-WIDE STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES. FINALLY, THE MODERNIZATION OF EXISTING INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES AND EQUIPMENT WILL SERVE AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF MEETING RETAINMENT GOALS. BY REPLACING ANTIQUATED CLASSROOM EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, AMT PROGRAM STAFF WILL PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE MOST RELEVANT AND UP-TO-DATE TRAINING AVAILABLE. THE ACTIVITIES PROPOSED IN THIS ABSTRACT ARE A CONTINUATION OF AN EXISTING PROJECT.