Spark a Bright Future With Highly Skilled Jobs in Cedar Valley
Find out why companies are increasingly bringing top-paying jobs to Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Northeast Iowa.
If you think it takes a hardscaped urban environment to spark innovation in American business, you haven’t met the Cedar Valley. From energy technology to advanced manufacturing and logistics, the region’s tech-driven economic engine is expanding, as companies increasingly bring top-paying and highly skilled jobs to Cedar Valley.
Once here, company executives and their employees often find that a higher quality of life and lower cost of living are good reasons to stay.
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Creating Highly Skilled Jobs in Cedar Valley
“There’s no better feeling than creating high-quality jobs right here in the Heartland,” says Larry Unverferth, president of Unverferth Manufacturing Co., in describing his decision to build a 75,000-square-foot addition to the company’s Shell Rock facility.
Opened in 1988, Unverferth has undergone several expansions in Shell Rock. The latest added 65 jobs for skilled workers in the advanced manufacturing field, such as robotics operators.
Advanced manufacturing makes up nearly 20% of Iowa’s economic output, with 4,100 companies across the state. Many employers are attracted by the state’s central location and transportation network, as well as a highly trained workforce and research capacity.
The region also makes room for emerging entrepreneurs to tap into the manufacturing industry at Cedar Valley Makers, which is part of the Fab Lab Network and offers “the space, the equipment and the knowledge base to facilitate making almost anything.”
Key Training at Hawkeye Community College
The local business community rallies around newcomers and is quick to gear up when training needs are identified. Members come together to bridge any gap that might arise between hiring needs and workers’ skill sets.
The construction industry is just one example. Hawkeye Community College introduced its sustainable construction and design program in response to the growing need for workers in the “green design” field. It was among the first to be certified through the U.S. Department of Energy’s new Zero Energy Design Designation. Participants can go on to pursue careers in construction management, which ranks as one of the industry’s highest-paid positions with average salaries of over $108,000.
“There’s such a demand in the industry right now; there’s a shortage of skilled trades workers,” says Jacob Boeschen, a recent graduate.
Ben Stricker, lead instructor for the two-year program, says students earn an applied sciences degree while learning the basics of construction, from carpentry to concrete finishing, and design and environmentally friendly building techniques.
Classroom work is combined with hands-on projects, including floor-to-ceiling construction of new homes, giving students a true experience in sustainable building opportunities and challenges.
“We talk about building houses smarter than we have in the past, that are more energy efficient, and how to use our building materials to create a better home for the customer and something that will last a lot longer,” Stricker says in a video about the curriculum.
As for Boeschen, he considers it a career investment. “My time here has really helped develop my skills and give me a lot of the tools necessary to be successful in the field,” the former student says.
“It’s molded me to be a successful employee wherever I go, whether it’s working for someone or owning my own business someday. It’s given me the tools to be successful in the future.”
Also at Hawkeye, the new Automation and Robotics Center provides the latest in manufacturing and automation technologies that allow students to gain Industry 4.0 skills and experience. Industry 4.0 involves industries that use cyber-physical systems and advanced automation to increase efficiency and productivity.
Partnerships Spark Training
In addition, the New Hampton Community School District recently partnered with local businesses, industries, community members and a community college to expand vocational opportunities. The district’s Vocational Agriculture/Industrial Technology Center will allow its students to explore options in welding, machining, carpentry, foundry work, precision farming and other related areas.
ATEK Industries is assisting the district in setting up a foundry class in which employees will co-teach with school district staff, providing hands-on experience.
Meanwhile, Northeast Iowa Community College is working with the district on apprenticeship and certificate programs. It is also looking to use the facility for industry training and potential adult classes designed to upgrade their skills.
Affordability Is a Draw
The Cedar Valley also stands out for how much each paycheck can buy, which is a major draw for first-time homebuyers, new graduates and people who envision wrapping up their career in the region.
Waterloo was named by Reader’s Digest as one of 22 places where retirees can afford to live on $1,500 a month. And the same is true across the region, with housing a particular bargain. Transportation, groceries and utilities also are nearly 20% below the national norm.
Even renters can benefit. Apartments in Waverly average approximately $1,100 per month, while in Waterloo they average $800, compared to $1,700 nationwide.
Get to Know the Cedar Valley
Want to learn more about living and working in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Metro Region of Iowa? Check out the latest edition of Livability Live the Valley.