As president of Iowa Central Community College, there is not a single day that passes without a business owner or community member asking me how we can increase the number of people in the skilled workforce that our region, state, and nation so desperately depend on.

On Nov. 4, our region will have the opportunity to support the infrastructure essential to enhancing our workforce needs by extending Iowa Central’s current General Obligation Bond.

This renewal continues an existing levy, meaning no increase to the current property tax rate. For the average homeowner across our nine-county region, the cost remains just $2.08 per month. Yet the impact of this modest investment is profound.

With these funds, Iowa Central will maintain and expand programs that directly serve students, local employers, and the broader community. This includes:

Health care and workforce training: Supporting high-demand programs in nursing, dental hygiene, HVAC, plumbing, welding, and more.

Agricultural education: Establishing a new Center for Ag-Science to train students in animal science, agri-business, precision agriculture, and veterinary science. This building would be constructed on the intersection of U.S. Highway 169 and Business Highway 20.

Facilities and maintenance: Renovating and repairing aging buildings to improve safety, efficiency, and reduce long-term costs.

High school student opportunities: Expanding access for the more than 2,000 area high school students already participating in our career and technical training programs.

Economic impact: Iowa Central serves over 6,000 students and employs more than 1,200 people — supporting one in every 26 jobs in our region.

This bond renewal is not just about maintaining buildings or programs — it’s about investing in people, opportunity, and the future of our communities. I encourage all residents to support this initiative and help us continue building a stronger, more skilled Iowa.

Dr. Jesse Ulrich is the president of Iowa Central Community College.