Benton County Community Foundation Supports Career and College Readiness

WATERLOO, IOWA (April 10, 2021) — The Iowa College Access Network (ICAN) is pleased to announce it has received a grant from the Benton County Community Foundation to support college and career readiness programming as part of its Student and Educator Support During and Post COVID-19 project.

The Benton 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 Benton County today, and in the future. The foundation supports its donors and the communities it serves with visionary leadership, effective grant making and personalized endowment building services.

The Student and Educator Support During and Post COVID-19 project will focus on closing planning gaps created by the pandemic for students in Benton County communities. The project will aim to serve more than 800 individuals including: students, parents, and educators through a partnership with Belle Plaine High School, Benton Community High School and Vinton-Shellsburg High School in Benton County.

“The pandemic put a stop to more than just the school day, it closed campuses, stopped visits and halted planning conversations in households across the state,” explained Rob Miller, ICAN executive director. “This grant enables students and families to catch up and close gaps created during the shutdown. Getting students back on track in planning for the future is a huge step in ensuring we get back to supporting the future workforce of our state.”

In an effort to empower students with the understanding that higher education is accessible to everyone, the Benton 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 10 locations in Ankeny, Cedar Rapids/Hiawatha, Coralville, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Orange City, 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 Benton County Community Foundation

The Benton 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 Benton 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.