Educational • Hands-On • Collaborative

Much of rural Iowa is struggling with developing an adequate workforce. How do smaller cities attract and retain population while adding in the skillsets needed to keep the town healthy?

Manning is one such city. As a city of about 1,400 people, it can be difficult to have the right ingredients for the local economy. Manning has an aging workforce and is facing challenges in equipping the next generation while attracting new residents.

The City of Manning and Manning Municipal Utilities (MMU) are trying something new, a Building Trades Program with the local high school. This program consists of high school courses where students learn trade and entrepreneurial skills while working with a local contractor to build a house in Manning. At the end of the day, the students learn crucial trade skills while understanding how to run a business; MMU adds to the local workforce; and the City of Manning adds a new construction house to its stock. Students who contribute to the project also get paid for their work. A massive win for all parties with the sale of the house funding future projects for the program.