Iowa Central Community College is an enormous asset to all of north central Iowa.

Not only does it provide affordable educational opportunities, the college also helps make certain that workers with the right technical skills are available to present and future employers.

The broad economic impact of Iowa Central on not only Webster County, but also the nine-county area the college serves is huge. A recent presentation to the Iowa Central board of directors forcefully brought that point home.

Ernest Goss, director of the Goss Institute for Economic Research in Denver, Colorado, outlined for board members the finding of a study he had completed titled “An Engine of Economic Growth for the Region and State.”

According to Goss, every $1 of local tax dollars provided to Iowa Central results in a 6 percent rate of return to the local taxpayer.

Goss said the economic benefits Iowa Central yields for this region are exceptionally impressive when compared to the record of similar colleges elsewhere. ICCC stands out. He said thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in salaries and taxes for Fort Dodge and the region are the result of ICCC’s presence here.

The impact Goss documented is multifaceted and impressive. Here are some of the highlights of his study:

Iowa Central supports more than 1,400 year-round jobs per year in its service area.

Businesses that benefit and are supported by Iowa Central pay about $2 million in property taxes per year.

People with an Iowa Central education earn more than contemporaries who only completed high school, making them greater contributors to the local economy. They earn on average about 18 percent more than had they ended their schooling at high school graduation.

Reflecting on Goss’ study, Iowa Central President Dan Kinney told The Messenger it helps illustrate the diverse ways Iowa Central benefits both its students and the community at large.

“To see the impact that Iowa Central has within our region it’s just amazing,” he said. “It really highlights what we do, not just the impact we make in our region but into the state itself. … Our students who graduate stay in the state of Iowa. They’re here, in our workforce, and this allows us to build that workforce.”

The Messenger has long been a strong champion of Iowa Central Community College. It’s exciting to hear research that documents the powerful positive impact we all know it is having. As north central Iowa communities build for the future, it is wonderful have Iowa Central’s many resources close at hand to help us prosper.