Kirkwood, IowaWORKS announce partnership to serve employers, workers, job seekers

CEDAR RAPIDS — Kirkwood Community College and IowaWORKS — the state’s workforce services network — have announced a new partnership that will create a shared Cedar Rapids location for both organizations, strengthening their collaboration to serve employers and support current workers and future job seekers.

A new location near Kirkwood’s campus — the former Ruffalo Noel Levitz building at 1025 Kirkwood Parkway SW — will house the community college’s workforce development programs and the IowaWORKS Cedar Rapids office.

IowaWORKS’ current location at Lindale Mall — 4444 First Ave. NE — will close July 31, and services will be moved to the new Kirkwood location.

The new location will open Aug. 1.

“This purchase is about more than a building,” Kirkwood President Kristie Fisher said in a news release announcing the partnership. “It’s about expanding opportunities, simplifying access and working together to prepare students for successful futures. This is a chance to make an even greater impact than we do already, and I'm very excited about the possibilities.”

The newly facility will serve as the central hub for Kirkwood’s Adult Basic Education, Continuing Education and workforce development programs.

Kirkwood’s co-location with IowaWORKS, which serves as the American Job Center (AJC) for the surrounding area, brings career counseling, job search assistance, employer connections and training programs into one location.

Last year, Kirkwood’s Continuing Education division served nearly 30,000 learners of all ages. And from Jan. 1, 2024, to Jan. 1, 2025, AJC team members in Cedar Rapids provided services to more than 33,120 customers.

The partnership also offers an opportunity to bring together all four core programs funded under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). This includes:

Currently, Titles I, III and IV operate out of the IowaWORKS office at Lindale Mall.

“At Iowa Workforce Development, we are always looking at how we can improve access to workforce services and create stronger partnerships to create better employment outcomes for Iowans,” Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development Beth Townsend said in a news release. “I am excited about this collaboration with Kirkwood Community College, who has been a longtime workforce partner with us, to create a true one-stop location from which students, adults, and employers can benefit.”

More information on the office’s hours, services and contact information will be released in the weeks ahead.