ICAN Awarded Grant for College Access Initiative

Black Hawk County Community Foundation Supports Career and College Readiness

WATERLOO, IOWA (February 3, 2014) — The Iowa College Access Network (ICAN) is pleased to announce it has received a grant from the Black Hawk County Community Foundation to support college and career readiness programming as part of its Black Hawk County College Access Initiative.

The Black Hawk County Community Foundation is a local, non-profit, charitable affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa and was established to build stronger, healthier communities in Black Hawk county today, and in the future.

In its first year, the Black Hawk County College Access Initiative will bring college planning and financial aid information and resources into the Black Hawk County communities to inform high school students and parents of the steps required to achieve their educational goals. With services provided through ICAN, the initiative will serve more than 750 individuals including: students, parents, and educators through a partnership with the high schools in Black Hawk County including Cedar Falls High School, Dunkerton High School, Hudson High School, Union High School, Expo High School and Waterloo East and West High Schools.

“ICAN programs are unique in the respect that they are brought into individual communities and provide face-to-face presentations and one-on-one advice to students in the communities in which they reside,” explained Rob Miller, ICAN executive director. “This grant enables that interaction to happen without requiring families to travel for professional advice. For some families traveling for assistance isn’t possible and the community foundation grant allows ICAN to continue serving these families where they live.

In an effort to empower students with the understanding that higher education is accessible to everyone, the Black Hawk County Initiative is part of a wider effort by ICAN to reach every middle- and high school and every student in Iowa to better prepare students for college and the workforce. According to Complete College America, more than 60 percent of Iowa jobs will require a college education by 2020.

“Education and training beyond high school is necessity for long-term success in the ever-changing job market,” explained Miller. “This grant enables ICAN to continue meeting the needs of Iowa students.”

ICAN, a nonprofit organization providing career and college readiness planning to students and parents in Iowa, has been educating and empowering Iowa’s future workforce since 1998.

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About ICAN

The Iowa College Access Network is a nonprofit, educational organization. ICAN is the College Access Network for Iowa, and a member of the National College Access Network (NCAN). ICAN has eight locations in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Orange City, Ottumwa, Sioux City and Waterloo, which provide information and support to students and their families as they plan their postsecondary education and apply for financial aid. All ICAN programs and services are provided without charge. For more information about ICAN, call (877) 272-4692 or visit www.ICANsucceed.org

About the Black Hawk County Community Foundation

The Black Hawk County Community Foundation is a local, non-profit, charitable affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. Due to the generosity and vision of all our donors, the Community Foundation was established to build stronger, healthier communities in Black Hawk County today, and in the future. We support our donors and the communities we serve with visionary leadership, effective grant making and personalized endowment building services.