ICR Iowa debuts career-connected learning hub

Corridor residents looking for information on potential careers as well as students exploring their future opportunities will have a new resource.

ICR Iowa, a joint venture between the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and the Iowa City Area Development Group, has announced the launch of ICRfuture.org, a new career-connected learning hub.

The website provides career information and salaries, high-demand career needs in the Corridor, opportunities for internships and job shadows, and a calendar of career and skill-building programs and camps for sixth-through-12th graders.

Kate Moreland, director of career development for ICR Iowa, said a systematic approach to career-connected learning can help maximize the impact on students in the region by increasing career awareness, exploration and experience.

'We have amazing partners throughout the region working to support students. By exposing more students to local companies, professionals and experiences, we can enrich their learning and help them build their skills of problem solving, collaboration and resilience to better prepare them for work and life,” Moreland said in a news release.

'The goal of this effort is to better prepare students for the future and develop a talent pipeline with the skills our employers desire.”

More than 70 educators, employers, and not-for-profit professionals worked on the project to develop the future workforce for the Corridor.

The work of the coalition is aligned with the state's Future Ready Iowa initiative, according to ICR Iowa.