Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds addressed a crowd of around 50 people in Jefferson Wednesday as they spoke about their STEM initiative.

The Greene County Community Center room was filled with community leaders, legislators, current and former educators and local residents.

The community conversation was one of 14 scheduled across the state to discuss the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiative.

“Generating more STEM jobs across Iowa will help us to secure a sustainable economy for Iowa’s future and assure a high quality of life for Iowans in future years” says Branstad.

Governor Branstad says by boosting achievement in these four areas, Iowans will be better prepared to handle future jobs in some of the highest paying industries.

The STEM initiative is just entering its second year as the advisory council was established last summer.  Both Branstand and Reynolds called the first year a “success story” but said there’s a lot more work that still has to be done.

Unfortunately, Branstad says now a days those who do not have additional training or a higher education have less job opportunities than they ever have before.

“Today what you’re doing is working with computers, you’re managing robotics, you’re problem solving.  It’s not the work it used to be 30-40 years ago” says Branstad.  “That’s why for those jobs in manufacturing today, we have people who are unemployed but they don’t have the skill set needed for those jobs”.

Members of the public seemed happy to hear that the initiative aims to give students these opportunities regardless of where they live.  Both the governor and lieutenant governor also spoke about the future of the STEM programs outlasting the current administration and having bipartisan support in the legislature.

“I’m more encouraged about this than just about anything else” says Branstad.

The community conversations continue in the coming weeks, followed by more planning meetings and outreach.