Let’s Show Off – Bipartisan Solutions in Workforce Pipeline Solutions

It is August in Iowa in an election year. The airwaves, social media and our mailboxes are full of messages from  political candidates and their allies comparing and contrasting their positions, hoping to get an edge with voters. Strategies to divide the electorate are successful and so they are repeated from cycle to cycle.

It is August in Iowa and that also marks the ramp-up of ABI’s public policy development process with all five of our policy committees meeting to develop policies for the post-election 2027 Legislative Session. Fortunately, some of the most important policy development we undertake are not met with the political division mentioned above, but instead with bipartisan support. Policies that break down barriers to workforce participation like affordable, available, sustainable childcare get bipartisan support. Policies that increase the availability and affordability of workforce housing get bipartisan support. Policies  that upskill the workforce and advance careers get bipartisan support

An area that would benefit from increased state policy participation is the exposure of Iowa students to workforce opportunities with ABI members, particularly manufacturers. Like childcare, housing and training these efforts have sitting legislators and new candidates leaning in to offer their support.

Many ABI members have well-established school-to-work programs, partnering with third parties and schools. Many offer successful internship programs. During this election season candidates are searching for chances to connect in their districts with employers that are making the economies of their part of Iowa run. It helps candidates reach voters and it helps employers highlight a need and show solutions. The public policy team at ABI would like to help you make connections with policymakers so that we can highlight the success stories so we can spread what is working. If you have such programs, we encourage you to reach out to JD Davis at jddavis@iowaabi.org or Brad Hartkopf at bhartkopf@iowaabi.org so that we can help you arrange a visit to your facilities. We expect policy attention in this area in 2027 and your involvement now will reap rewards for your enterprise and all employers in the coming year. ABI