Strategic Plan: Non-Housing Community Development Plan:
Economic Development Needs

Currently, the emphasis in HUD programs is to help families move toward self-sufficiency. Suitable education and training for jobs is part of this process. Further research is needed to determine what skills local employers are looking for and what on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs are available and needed.

Currently, Mayor's Youth Employment Program provides job skill programs for youth training and education. They assisted 408 Johnson County youth last year.

The Family Investment Program (FIP formerly Aid to Families with Dependent Children) works with Promise Jobs (under JTPA) to provide job training.

The Evert Conner Center offers comprehensive training in job seeking and personal assistance to persons with disabilities. They have experienced a large increase in clients.

Kirkwood Community College provides Graduate Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.) preparation, basic skills training, English as a Second Language (ESL), and Adult Literacy programs. Participants in Promise Jobs are required to participate in a high school degree program.

A major problem identified at public meetings is the increasing number of temporary jobs in the area. According to a 1995 survey of local temporary hiring agencies, it is estimated that there are 3,500 temporary jobs in Iowa City. About 35% of the temporary employees are hired for indefinite periods. Some of these work on a temporary basis for prolonged periods of time. An example cited at one of the 1995 CITY STEPS public meetings was a person working at a local business on a temporary basis since 1985. In 1995 temporary employment agencies estimated that 26% of Iowa City employers use temporary employees to fill formerly permanent positions. The peak seasonal periods for temporary employment are November through January and the month of September. It should be noted that temporary jobs are often appropriate in a community where the labor market includes a sizable population seeking such employment, e.g. students. However, such temporary jobs provide no benefits, are often at minimum wage or slightly above, and do not provide a "living" wage in Iowa City. More information is needed to determine how and what type of job opportunities are needed.

Employment support services such as childcare and transportation were addressed at public meetings as important needs. Studies are needed to determine ways of meeting these needs in the Iowa City area.

As stated earlier, the development of expanded childcare options (including 3^rd shift and weekends) was a re-occurring message at the public meetings. One idea, often mentioned, was the provision of childcare facilities at or nearby to centers of employment. Recently, HACAP worked with the Coral Ridge Mall to develop an on-site day care facility.

The Evert Conner Center offers programs for persons with disabilities that provide independent living skills, career development, comprehensive training in job seeking, advocacy, and personal assistance. They assisted 55 Johnson County residents between July 1997 and June 1998.

Goodwill Industries of Southeast Iowa's Threshold program provides opportunities for successful living for persons with disabilities by providing community based training and employment services. These services include job search training, peer support, job placement, and job coaching.

The Institute for Social and Economic Development (ISED) is in its fifth year of operating a micro-enterprise development program in Iowa City funded with CDBG monies. At the University of Iowa the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) also offers classes targeting micro-enterprises. Both programs offer classes to teach business skills to develop and start up small businesses. Discussions with ISED and SBDC staff and its clients have pointed to a need for a business incubator in Iowa City. They would like to see both retail and light industrial business incubator that would offer reduced rents and shared office facilities to small business owners.

The existing industrial park in southeast Iowa City has recently been expanded and is open to new and relocating businesses. One way to encourage businesses to locate in Iowa City and employ low- and moderate-income employees is to provide technical assistance, support applications for state funding, or to subsidize the development of infrastructure.

There currently is not a program to encourage commercial or industrial rehabilitation, but with the ever increasing commercial and industrial development on the fringes of Iowa City and in surrounding communities, the older centrally located structures may be threatened. If this fringe development continues a program should be developed to encourage rehabilitation of the existing older structures to maintain economic viability and adaptability.

Technical assistance for economic development needs in Iowa City is provided by the City of Iowa City's Economic Development Coordinator, the Iowa City Chamber of Commerce, and the Iowa City Area Development Group.