The program, called The Link, will involve businesses partnering with a classroom at the school, according to Molly Nelson, director of the Fort Dodge Community Schools Foundation.

Business leaders will meet with the same class at least four times a year for engaging discussion and presentations about their business.

The FDMS received a five-year, $1.6 million school climate transformation grant that will support The Link.

“We believe The Link will benefit both businesses and students,” said Kim Bodholdt, director of school climate transformation at FDMS, in a written statement. “We want students to be inspired by our business leaders, learn about career paths in the community and make connections to those careers and their education.”

She added, “Businesses will have a chance to get face-to-face with the next generation of leaders.”

Each classroom will display a sign with their business partner’s logo, and each business will receive The Link poster to display.

Nelson reported that more than 35 businesses have agreed to participate. There is no cost for businesses to be a part of the program.

One of those businesses is UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center.

Jadi Wilson is the program coordinator for the office of medical education there.

She will help line up speakers from the hospital to visit the middle school.

Wilson said her hope for the program is that students will be exposed to careers they hadn’t previously considered.

“When a lot of people or students think of a hospital, they think of doctors and nurses, so exposing them to the different careers in hospitals that the general population might not think about,” she said.

She used environmental services and dieticians as examples.

“They might not know there is dieticians here,” Wilson said. “There’s a lot of different career options.”

She said educating students now could lead them to discover an opportunity locally.

“I think it’s a good opportunity to build relationships with the Fort Dodge schools since we do provide a lot of services to the community,” Wilson said. “If they are from here and interested in being a nurse or getting involved in nutrition, we have a wide range of career opportunities here.”

She added, “Whatever career path they want to go on to, they may work here one day.”

Citizens Community Credit Union will also be participating in The Link.

“We are participating because we want to make a positive impact in the community,” said Jen Crimmins, Citizens Community Credit Union vice president of human resources, in a written statement. “We also look forward to connecting with middle school students in the community.”

Dennis Plautz, CEO of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, believes The Link will help students learn more about the growing businesses and industries in the Fort Dodge area.

“The Link will connect business leaders with future employees,” he said. “The Growth Alliance is collaborating with others to bring new business and industry to the area, plus many established businesses are expanding. It’s critical that we also work on expanding and engaging students who could be part of the future workforce.”

The Fort Dodge Middle School serves more than 1,000 fifth- through eighth-grade students in almost 60 classrooms, according to Nelson.

Iowa Central Community College Career Connections and the Fort Dodge Community Schools Foundation are working together to link business partners with classrooms.

To sign up or for more information, contact Molly Nelson at 574-5327 or mnelson@fdcsfoundation.org.