It’s no secret that it is tough to fill all the open job positions in north central Iowa.

The only logical way to meet the demand for people in all kinds of skilled positions is to train people, especially local people, to fill those jobs. Community colleges have always had a lead role in doing just that.

Now Iowa Central Community College is preparing to take another step to help fill those jobs. It will be the first community college in the state to adopt the Early College Success Program in partnership with Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates, often called iJAG.

The iJAG program is nothing new. It has existed for 24 years, but only for students in sixth grade through their senior year in high school. At that level, it has developed a solid reputation for helping high school students learn about and get prepared for jobs that are in demand.

The new partnership will continue that at the community college level, providing additional support for students who need it while training for occupations that require a two-year degree.

It will start in August with the beginning of the next academic year.

This is a good step toward helping to meet the workforce needs of our area.

There is an added, but sometimes, overlooked bonus to enhancing community college job training programs. There is a growing stack of statistics that shows people who earn their degrees or certifications at community college are very likely to stay in Iowa.

We thank the leadership of Iowa Central Community College for taking on this new program. By doing so, the college is staying true to its principal mission: preparing the workforce of today and tomorrow.

With this move, the college is also embracing a new and innovative way to accomplish its workforce training mission. College leaders should be congratulated for doing so.

We also encourage students who are eligible for the program to take advantage of it. A lot of rewarding, not to mention good-paying, careers await for those who get the right training.