Letter to the Editor - We need workforce training program funding source
Letter to the Editor of Iowa Falls Times Citizen - March 25, 2026
As Executive Director of Iowa Falls Area Development Corporation (IFADC), I want to bring attention to legislation currently moving through the Iowa Legislature—Senate File 2301 and House Study Bill 755—that could have a serious impact on our local workforce and employers.
As written, these bills would eliminate the primary funding source for Iowa’s 260 workforce training programs after June 30. These programs have been a cornerstone of economic and workforce development in our state for decades, particularly for rural communities like ours.
Here in Hardin County, these programs have delivered real and measurable results. Over the past five years, local employers—including River Valley Pipe, Barnhart Electric, Cargill, D&B Agro-Systems, HD Hudson Manufacturing, Plastic Recycling of Iowa Falls, and Summit Farms—have collectively received workforce training support. That investment enabled the training of 590 employees, strengthened our businesses, improved workers’ skills, and helped rural employers stay competitive.
Unfortunately, misleading information has been circulating about the purpose and effectiveness of the 260 programs. These programs are not corporate giveaways—they are workforce investments that directly benefit employees, employers, and the economic health of rural communities. I encourage our legislators, community members, and partners to reach out with questions. Accurate information is critical as decisions are being made that will shape Iowa’s workforce for years to come.
Eliminating these programs would place rural Iowa at a significant disadvantage. Businesses in small communities often lack the resources to provide ongoing training in-house. Community colleges rely on 260E and 260F funding to deliver affordable, accessible training statewide. Without these programs, employers will face higher costs, reduced access to training, and greater challenges in attracting and retaining skilled workers.
Simply put, dismantling the 260 programs would weaken workforce competitiveness, slow economic development, and undermine long-standing partnerships that help rural Iowa thrive.
I urge community members to contact their legislators and ask them to reconsider changes in the bill that affect the 260 program. I also invite any legislator to contact me directly with questions or for additional information. The future of our rural workforce, and our local economy, depends on maintaining strong, accessible training opportunities.
Mark Buschkamp
Executive Director of Iowa Falls Area Development Corp. (IFADC)