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Iowa: The Smart State for Business by TIM VENABLE
Where can we find the skilled
That's an oft-heard cry in facility-location circles today, as expansion-minded companies search high and low for pockets of untapped skilled labor. But growing numbers of firms are finding the human resources they need in Iowa, a place that's making a name for itself as "The Smart State for Business."
Iowa stands out as a source of skilled workers because the best employees are the product of the best education systems -- like Iowa's. That simple maxim helps explain why the state is an increasingly preferred location for corporate facilities (see chart of recent major investments).
"We believe our work force is a great advantage," says Bob Henningsen, in charge of business development for the Iowa Dept. of Economic Development (www.smart.state.ia.us). "We have an outstanding education system."
Indeed, Iowa has a long tradition as a pacesetter for the nation in education. Iowa's school districts are at the forefront of new trends in school financing, teaching methods, administration and curriculum. And results.
In 1999, for instance, 84 percent of Iowa's students graduated from high school, compared to the national average of just 68 percent -- ranking Iowa No. 5 nationally. And Iowa students' scores on ACT and SAT college entrance examinations consistently rank among the top three in the country.
Higher education is another strength. Iowa has three state universities and 56 other public and private colleges and universities, including 15 community colleges on 29 campuses.
The University of Iowa reported a record number of inventions for Fiscal Year 1998, developing 90 new innovative products. The University of Iowa Research Foundation filed for a record 69 patents based on those 90 inventions, surpassing the previous record of 37 applications in 1997.
Iowa State University is a national leader in agri-biotechnology and engineering. It ranked No. 7 nationally in both the number of licenses generating royalties and number of start-up companies formed as a result of its technology-transfer efforts in Fiscal Year 1998.
Some 5,000 students are pursuing bachelor's degrees in engineering at Iowa's two engineering colleges. And the percentage of Iowa students who pass the national Fundamentals of Engineering examination (a requirement for professional licensing) is a staggering 95 percent, compared to the national pass rate of just 60 percent.
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