As the 2023 Iowa Legislative Session gets underway, one lawmaker is busy crafting a new bill.

District 47 Representative Carter Nordman is working on legislation for an Iowa Workforce Grant and Incentive Program. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio this grant would be given to students that have completed two years of education at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) to go toward their final two years of college of entering high demand jobs, as well as one year outside of college to keep those individuals in Iowa.

“Really the purpose of this bill is to help us address our workforce shortage. By working with our regent universities and steer students into careers that no only benefit them, but benefit Iowa’s economy.” 

Nordman describes the key to this grant program.

“So we really do need to rely on our regent universities to help us end this workforce shortage. Whether that be relying on UNI for pumping out teachers, whether that be relying on (University of) Iowa for ensuring that there’s more nurses in the state, or Iowa State (University) to make sure that they are doing their best to steer students into the field of engineering and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).”   

Nordman adds this bill is aimed to go through the education appropriations subcommittee, of which he currently serves on.