Your support can be great here.
The Opportunity Dubuque program is a partnership between Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) and Greater Dubuque Development Corporation. It is focused on a subset of NICC's Career Pathway Certificate programs aligned to develop skills for high demand employment opportunities in the Greater Dubuque region. Students enrolled in the program receive tuition support to remove any financial barriers, as well as coaching support to graduate and secure career track employment. Doubling down on ensuring student success, Opportunity Dubuque also includes wrap around supports like child care and transportation to expand access to all and remove common impediments to graduation and long-term employment.
Last school year and so far in the 2023-2024 academic calendar, our enrollments and completions in the Opportunity Dubuque targeted certificate programs have grown, due in part to the addition of a second Career Coach thanks to our expanded investments in the program. Our active collaboration with NICC that includes monthly meetings, engagement through our Dubuque Works network, and evolving certificate targets based on employer needs we identify through our year-round InfoAction program, combine to support the effectiveness and efficacy of the Opportunity Dubuque partnership.
As of March 1, 2024, we have 250 enrollments in Opportunity Dubuque for the academic year and we’re on track to exceed our 200-graduate goal by the end of Greater Dubuque Development's current fiscal year which is June 30, 2024. As we reflect on our most recent skills gap analysis, the certificate programs supported through Opportunity Dubuque continue to reflect the need for skilled workforce across industries, from certified nursing aides to welders to customer service and sales professionals.
Thanks to the City of Dubuque, Dubuque County, and the DRA for their continued support of the Opportunity Dubuque program. A special thanks to Northeast Iowa Community College and our College and Career Coaches, Adrianna Johnson and Marcus Ingles, who make this program successful. Through collaborative efforts like Opportunity Dubuque, we are delivering on the promise that YOU can be great here in the Greater Dubuque region.
To learn more about Opportunity Dubuque, contact Nic Hockenberry, Director of Workforce Programming at 563-557-9049 or nicolash@greaterdubuque.org. You can also read more about the Opportunity Dubuque program in NICC's Spring 2024 Solutions Magazine.
Your support can be great here.