Located in the heart of America in the southeastern portion of Iowa, Lee County not only embodies Midwestern charm, but is home to a multitude of Fortune 500 and international companies that are continuously growing. Located along the Mississippi River and centered between Interstates 80, 35, 55 and 70.
Manufacturing Jobs
Potential Regional Labor Force
Students Participate in Grow Lee Programs
of Lee County Schools participate in STEM Scale-Ups
A Workforce/Business Retention and Expansion project focused on growing and increasing the quality of Lee County’s workforce
Grow Lee is a collaborative effort spearheaded and facilitated by Lee County EDG
Goal: Ensure an adequate workforce that meets the current and future needs of our employers.
One-on-one Synchronist interviews were conducted with industries representing Lee County’s top 20 employers. These companies represent over 4,000 workers, or 94% of manufacturing employees in Lee County. Data from the Synchronist interviews determined workforce to be the No. 1 Business Retention and Expansion issue facing Lee County industries.
Lee County EDG has hosted 15 Talent for Today and Tomorrow over four years to solicit input from our investors and Lee County stakeholders. Information from these meetings, combined with data collected from our Synchronist interviews, to form a program of action called Grow Lee.
Initially, Grow Lee consisted of 10 workforce initiatives however through collaboration it has expanded beyond the original programs. The initiative was designed to develop a pipeline of workers for current and future careers. The programs included a Lego Robotics program for elementary school students, to an employabiltiy class for high school students called 12 Plus, and up-training our existing workforce through stackable certificates utilizing our community college's new Industrial Technology Center.
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Lee County schools had the opportunity to get new equipment to prepare their students for future careers thanks to Climax Molybdenum.
Central Lee Ag Instructor Tom Boeck stated, “We’re grateful that they thought of us and it will make a big impact on the students.” All three Lee County public schools were invited to look at the equipment Climax was hoping to donate and choose what would best fit their programs.
“We are pleased to support our local schools and provide equipment that helps prepare students for the 21st century workplace,” said Javier Guevara, General Manager-Fort Madison. Central Lee received the CAT Track loader and John Deere 970 tractor pictured above along with other smaller equipment while Keokuk Community Schools received a portable welder.
...Students from across the region attended the SE Iowa's Career Exploration Day. Lee County EDG partnered with the Greater Burlington Partnership and Southeastern Community College to have 1,032 fifth and eighth grade students, 160 of them from Lee County, explore 6 career paths.
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