Kirkwood Community College and IowaWORKS will open a joint location this Friday, Aug. 1, on the college’s main campus.
The new partnership, previously announced in April, will offer professional education, and support both current workers and future job seekers, according to a news release.
The former Ruffalo Noel Levitz building — 1025 Kirkwood Parkway SW, Cedar Rapids — now known as East Hall, will serve as the central hub for Kirkwood’s adult basic education, continuing education, and workforce development programs. A key feature of this expansion is the collocation with IowaWORKS, part of the statewide American Job Center (AJC) network. This alignment brings career counseling, job search assistance, employer connections and training programs into one location, according to the release.
The partnership also offers a unique opportunity to bring together all four core programs funded under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) for the first time:
- Title I: Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth services
- Title II: Adult Education and Family Literacy, including High School Completion and English as a Second Language
- Title III: Wagner-Peyser Employment Services
- Title IV: Vocational Rehabilitation
Titles I, III, and IV have operated out of the IowaWORKS office at Lindale Mall. That location will cease operations July 31, and all services will move to the new building on Kirkwood’s main campus.
In 2024, Kirkwood’s continuing education division served nearly 30,000 learners – ranging from school-aged children in KICK programs to adults pursuing leisure learning, workforce certifications, and advanced credentials. The division also partners with local employers to deliver custom training and supports state-mandated programs and registered apprenticeships. In addition, it works closely with Kirkwood’s credit programs to build clear, flexible pathways for students looking to start or continue their academic and career journeys. From Jan. 1, 2024, to Jan. 1, 2025, AJC team members in Cedar Rapids provided services to over 33,120 customers, the release states.
