To the editor:

I am writing to let your readers know the board of directors of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance has voted to endorse the upcoming $29.5 million bond issue election that will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016.

Iowa Central Community College has played a key role in our local and regional economic revitalization and growth. Their students and workforce training programs are critically important to the growth of our local economy. As Dr. Ernie Goss stated in his economic impact analysis on Iowa Central, “Our study estimated that for the period of 2015-2020, Iowa Central spending will support an average of 1,334 year-round jobs in a variety of industries throughout its nine county service area, and an average of 1,445 jobs per year for Iowa. For the overall regional economy, Iowa Central is a necessary support of economic progress for its nine county service area for 2014, generating $46 million in wages and salaries for area workers and $137 million in additional sales.”

The funds raised from this bond issue will be used to improve campus safety and upgrade its aging infrastructure (the state of Iowa does not provide funding for community college infrastructure improvements). Additionally, it will allow for the creation of two new Career Academies so all students in the Iowa Central service area can have access to various career and technical education programs and college credit classes, as well as the construction of a new “one stop” Student Success Center to better serve all students.

Please join me and our board of directors in voting YES on Dec. 6, 2016.

Matt Johnson

President

Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance

board of directors

Fort Dodge