(Iowa Capital Dispatch report) – Two of Iowa’s higher education institutions are working with the Eastern Iowa Airport to launch a new training program and fill gaps in the aviation industry. Coe College announced in a news release Monday both the private university and Kirkwood Community College will offer educational resources for the new Aviation Workforce Development Campus, a space spanning two hangars in the airport for students to learn and train in their aviation programs. Airport Director Mary Lenss said in the release, “We recognized the need to take a leadership role in addressing aviation workforce challenges. By establishing this Aviation Workforce Development Campus, we’re not only preparing students for positions throughout aviation to sustain industry operations locally and worldwide, but we’re also positioning CID as a regional hub for aviation education. These students will be entering professions that have already seen significant growth and are primed for more.”

(Photo by David Kosling/USDA)

The Eastern Iowa Airport has an existing relationship with Coe College, having partnered with the Cedar Rapids university to create a Coe College flight school and aviation management program, operated by the college and Revv Aviation. The Coe programs are being operated out of the development campus, according to the release, alongside Kirkwood’s aviation maintenance technology program. Flight training under the purview of flight training company ATD Flight Systems will begin at the development campus this fall, the release stated.

Kirkwood Community College President Kristie Fisher said in the release the launch of the airport campus “represents a serious response to workforce needs and a terrific opportunity for our students to be part of the airport’s leadership in aligning education and training with national demand.” Coe College President David Hayes said in the news release, “The Eastern Iowa Airport’s vision for this campus creates a special opportunity to help fill a need for both the Corridor and a larger industry that’s crucial to economic growth on a local to global scale. I’m most excited for the students who, because of this dynamic arrangement at CID, are going to enter the workforce prepared to thrive.”