Community colleges are the key to creating jobs and growing Iowa's skilled workforce. Middle class Iowa families depend on affordable community college tuition to get the additional training that helps them land good-paying jobs.

Governor Branstad has proposed a six million dollar cut to worker training efforts at community colleges next year. With your support, we're going to work with our colleagues in the House and Senate to grow our skilled workforce and bring more jobs to Iowa.

We, the undersigned, ask you to sign our petition.

Dianne McTeer,

Dusky Terry,
The State ought to be investing more money in community colleges and specifically workforce training programs. If we really want to grow our economy and employ more Iowans, we need to work with businesses to make sure the available workforce has the training and skills that match the need. Programs like Accelerated Careers Education (ACE) should be expanded; not cut.

Mark Ryan,

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Our Young Iowans need affordable college just out of high school. Community colleges in Iowa are really successful, don't mess with a winner

Lisa Miller,
There is no better investment for Iowa than the community colleges that offer affordable tuition and training programs which prepare skilled workers what they need to be employed in this tough job market. Community Colleges are vital to growth in Iowa! Please support them.

Gretchen Lawyer,

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At a time when community colleges are creating innovative programs and meeting the training needs of Iowans, we should not decrease the state's financial support. They are a great affordable option for higher education.

Norman Kalvig,

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We must support our community colleges so that they can train the workforce AND so that they have the means to match skilled workers with job openings. Job placement is also an issue, expecially with older workers. Having skills is necessary but usually is not sufficient to land a job.

Michael McLaughlin,
Community Colleges play a vital role in educating the state's workforce. We will not realize the Governor's goal of 200,000 new jobs without support to the community colleges.

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It is critically important that the state of Iowa invest more money in our community colleges. This should be seen as an investment in our economy. This is the time to be making sure that we are offering the training programs that Iowans need in order to be employable and to want to stay in our state and contribute to our economy. For some Iowans, this may be seen as a more affordable way to begin earning their 4-year degree, for others, like our son, it is the pathway to a career.

Patricia Shaw,
We need to support the youth of Iowa who are trying to prepare themselves for the future work force of the state.

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With Medicaid reimbursement in Iowa being very low, persons with disabilities are at risk for services. Community college educated persons are exactly the kind of people to work with the disabled population. Don't bite the hand that feeds us!

Matthew Steven,
It's thanks to the affordability and accessibility of the Iowa Community College system that I was able to earn my degree and improve my career prospects. Supporting community colleges is supporting the right of motivated Iowans to pull themselves out of poverty and make a greater contribution for us all.

Mary Ellen Wishart,
We especially support the AMOS program which will match an underemployed person with the training to work toward a job that is "guaranteed" at the end of the training. I believe it is called Project Iowa.

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The community colleges have opened the possibility for advanced education to thousands of Iowans. The system has proved itself. It simply must be encouraged. Taking a long-term view, I see no better way for the state to use its funds.

Susan J Hayden,

Joseph D. Brisben,

John S. Metier,

Gerry Rowland,
It is very important to adequately fund community colleges

Deb Kirchner,
I graduated from a Community College in 1972 with a Nursing Degree and have been employed as a Nurse every since. I attended a community college due to my financial situation. Community Colleges are a necessity for the low to middle income families that what their children to recieve the education/ job skills they need in order to secure a good job. Please do not decrease the funding to the community colleges in Iowa. Deb Kirchner

Peggy Ross,
We need to invest in the future of Iowa workers, not cut back on the services they need to fill open jobs. Support for community colleges and their students is money well invested.

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Marti Anderson,
Education in trade schools and college is the most direct way to enable Iowans to meet their full potential, reduce to eliminate poverty, and reduce crime. Iowa must not reduce, in fact should increase, the Iowa investment in a quality workforce and future.

Anne Johnson,
The Governor's proposed cuts seem to fly in the face of his best in the world education plans. Why prepare K-12 students for college if they can't even afford community college higher education? Iowa unemployment is lower than other states but we still have a great many unemployed who are no longer looking, have lost unemployment benefits and can't afford to retrain because those benefits have also run out. We also have a large number of under-employed. People who are unemployed or under-employed cannot contribute to the tax base. Workforce development and community college funds are critical to the economic development of the state.

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Don't turn your backs on the community colleges now as they play a key role in training Iowa’s workforce to meet the needs of businesses while also encouraging new businesses to locate in Iowa. The students are the ones who suffer from the lack of funding and tuition is already one of the highest in the country.

Cheryl A. Carnes,
As a single mom going back to school so that I could support my family better, am so thankful for the community college (IHCC). The smaller classroom and it focus on community workforce needs help me more on to be a better parent and workers. I would not had the resources to enable me a higher paying job and get my off state support without an affordable community college.

Helen S, Boyd,
Please support our community colleges. They provide a unique service and grow our population of tax-paying Iowans by providing skills that 4-year institutions do not. While most graduates of 4-year colleges move out of state for higher paying jobs, those with a community college education tend to stay in Iowa and support their communities.

Daryl F Kothenbeutel,

Karen Ott,
This action would not only grow our skilled workforce, but make it more attractive for more businesses to come to Iowa because of our skilled workforce and community college involvement.

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The communnity college is the logical place to begin the process of training skilled workers. It is my hope that there would be very close communication between those neding employees and the colleges to see that the colleges have the necessary tools for their jobs. The employers should take the responsibility to make sure this happens. The state certainly has a stake in all of this and it makes nosense to cut the budget.

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I am a non-traditional student currently enrolled in a community college with aspirations to change careers and provide a better future for my family. Without affordable tuition or the willingness of the staff to help me achieve my academic goals, my future would undoubtedly be less promising than it is now.

Please support our community colleges by ensuring the programs and services that they offer are substantially funded.

Roshanda Rushing,

Monica Kurth,
As a community college instructor, I can attest to the opportunity that community colleges offer to students. We are "open door" institutions, so we offer the possibility of advanced education and training to students who would otherwise be turned away from college. I can also attest to the difficulty brought about by budget cuts and successive low funding. As a professional, I know my salary is significantly lower than my peers in the K12 system. I also know, that during the 25 years I've taught at the community college, my wages have not kept up with increased cost of living. It's time for the legislature to stop funding community colleges with the leftovers, after K12, the regents, and even private colleges (through Iowa Tuition Grant program). We deserve better.

Tracy Kruse,
There are thousands of jobs right now in Iowa that are going unfilled because there are not enough skilled workers -- in Dubuque alone, there are 350 job openings in advanced manufacturing and CNC -- community colleges can never supply that kind of demand without funds to help them.Thanks for everyone who is trying to raise awareness of this issue!

Richard Jensen,
stay invested in our future by keeping the funding available to all Iowans

Brian Selck,
Putting funding "at risk" would be a better decision. Like your public school ideas, reward for improving or excellence. The bigger problem, when looking further, is the lack of inclusion of public high schools in meeting community college training expectations. Few are likely to be preparing cutting edge skills, including computer training, in any of their industrial training. Many HS graduates in Iowa have little or no computer training...especially related to technical industry practices. This costs the community college greater expense. Last walk through my former HS I saw three students working on wood lathes...with no supervision, no protective equipment and power cords 2-feet above floor. Here is shown the HS practice of not even getting safety taught!!

Douglas Gustafson,
The governor and legislature need to keep in mind that funding community colleges properly is an investment, not a cost.

Pamela Poynter,
Community colleges are key to bringing new skills needed in the state's manufacturing jobs such as welding, etc. to make the economy grow!! Didn't we just hear that this week????

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Our youth deserve the opportunity to have affordable, easy access to workforce training and to community college classes. Please make this happen.

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Community college graduates stay in Iowa. Iowa currently is experiencing shortages in many skilled areas, community college training can help solve this issue.

Julie G. Huiskamp,
Community colleges provide vital education and training for Iowans hoping to find their first job and to those who have been displaced and need to obtain new skills. The loss of million to Iowa's community colleges will negatively impact the system's ability to train Iowans and provide our businesses with skilled workers.

Jennifer Cook,

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Krystal Crandall,

Kris Nerem-Lowery,

Nick Pfadenhauer,

Joni Kellen,

Jeremy Everett,
As a community college graduate, I know how incredibly important my education is to improving my community, the State of Iowa, and my life. Please do not deny such vital institutions the help they need to keep people like me in school. If you want jobs, you protect our education... always remember everyone can vote, and if too many Iowans are denied an education they may exercise their right to pick and choose their representitives.

Addrea Breon,
Education is key to the success of our nation. We need to work together to make education possible for students that don't have the means to fund their education.

Community colleges are a great place to start a post-secondary education. It's much cheaper than a university. I would always recommend a student to get their 2 year degree at a community college, and then transfer to a 4 year to finish. It will save them thousands of dollars. Please, help keep this possible for them!

Karen Lombard,
The community colleges need that money to continue the work they do in training.

Susan M. Balsamo,

Wendi Grettenberg,

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Larry & Evelyn Peter,

Gary L. Kaufman,
Community colleges train Iowa workers so that Iowa has a higher skill level for their workers, and hopefully higher pay for them as well. DO NOT CUT FUNDING TO THIS VITAL LINK TO HIGHER PAYING JOBS!

A. Michael Hazell,
Does the governor not realize how important education is in keeping the United States in a prominent position of leadership on our planet and to restore our economy?

Miriam Patterson,
Our Community Colleges are one of the best ways for Iowa students to begin their higher education or to complete vocational training at a manageable cost for middle class families. These Colleges vitally need more support from the state at this time, rather than less.

Sara Trueblood,

Linda Linn,
As a school counselor and parent of 3 adult children, I know how important the community colleges are to Iowa. Our young people need to have choices in their post-secondary education that fit their financial and their career needs. Our business and industry needs to have skilled workers available to them.

Kathleen Donlin,
Having started my Bachelor's at a community college, I understand the vital role that a community college plays for those individuals who can't afford a traditional college or simply aren't sure they're ready for a traditional college. My niece currently attends a community college, which allows her to work and save money by living at home. With the economy being what it is, more people are turning to community colleges to provide them with the tools to make a career change and a better future for themselves.

Dan Keller,
With the economy more difficult and training crucial to graduating h.s. seniors and out of work adults, it is not the time to cut funding but increase funding!

Amy Mehlhorn,

Barbara Waite,

Beth Collins,

James Grisolano,
It just makes good sense to provide adequate funding for such basic and essential training and education programs.

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Mark Donhowe,

Daniel F White,
The CCs could be the key to future job growth. We can't let this slip away. Thank you!

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Having attended a community college before transferring to UNI, I understand the value of what the community colleges in the State of Iowa offer. I also had the opportunity to work closely with community colleges for 5 years as an employee of the Department of Education. There I gained an even greater respect for what they are doing for the state under continued cuts to their budgets. We need to fund these areas that do so much for the state.

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Kathleen Schreier,
I've just returned home from an event featuring the talents of the Iowa Central Community College Culinary Arts in collaboration with the Music Dept. As the Culinary Arts students took their bows for a job well done, it was evident to everyone in attendance that the Culinary Arts program was flourishing....particularly with students returning to the community college for additional training. Without this opportunity for education, where would these displaced workers find themselves? Clearly, this community college provided the avenue for their success.

Terri Nederhiser,
The jobs today are high tech so we should invest in our colleges.

Marcia M. Hummel,

Phil Zwanziger,
I, as well as many of my friends have benefited from the strong community college system that is offered in Iowa. For Iowa to hold and grow our economy, we must continue to offer the career training programs to attract and grow our employment opportunities.

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We must support our community colleges so that they can train the workforce AND so that they have the means to match skilled workers with job openings. Job placement is also an issue, especially with older workers. Having skills is necessary but usually is not sufficient to land a job. We need Community colleges to grow Iowa and the economy.

june judge,
A skilled workforce is essential! Don't cut funds for community colleges!

Nick Hammen,

Trenisha Webster,

Chris Simmons,

Michelle Ramthun,
I am an employee of Iowa Central Community College and was a member of the self-study team that wrote Iowa Central's request for accreditation report. The chapter I edited included workforce training, and I was amazed by what Iowa Central does for the communities in our service area! It's definitely a strength for not just the college, but citizens, business, and industry in our region.

The community relies on the community college. As recently as yesterday, an acquaintance of mine said, "Iowa Central is such a jewel for our community." Workforce training and other funding will help keep it that way.

Lyle Stevens,

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Jan McNeil,

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Paul Uzel,

Nancy Frederick,

Doug Walter,

Jane Bechen,
Our community colleges are vital to our economy. Please keep the funing coming.

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At a time when residents need skills to obtain a job, the state should invest money to get citizens working.

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Not only do our high school students rely on community colleges, they are becoming more highly used by non-traditional students as they become laid-off from jobs in our communities. Career and technical ed programs are already bursting at the seams. Further cuts will only continue to keep people out of school and out of work. Neither of these options will benefit our state or communities.

Susan Langan,

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Robert and Lona Aldrich,
Our community colleges are very responsive to business needs in each of their areas. Cutting their budgets is cutting businesses' abilities to recruit workers with the skills those businesses need as well as raising the costs of retraining and upgrading skills for currently employed workers. Penny wise and pound foolish.

Michael John Cross,
I am working and paying taxes in Iowa. I entered my current profession through a 2-year college program and continue learning as I contribute to the business for which I work. That business also pays taxes in Iowa. If the Governor doesn't want such revenue, my employer and I will gladly accept a refund. I don't know about my employer, but I for one would be tempted to use such a refund to move to a state that actually values education.

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Bill Ibanez,
After military duty the community college I attended provide a direct path for my Engineering degree. The 2 year program in Engineering science enabled me to attend on of the top ten technical schools in the nation. My degree was instrument to my design engineering jobs at both Hewlett Packard and Hughes Aircraft

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John Noel,

Lois Ichelson,

Kay Sternhagen,
I am a graduate from a community college - the affordable solution made it possible for me to earn my degree. Community colleges are necessary to Iowa - don't cut their funding!!!

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It is not logical to cut funding for community colleges. More community college graduates stay and contribute to the state than university graduates.

Thomas Wilson,

Elissa Lopez,
Young Iowans, as well as non traditional students, need an affordable option for college. Why take that opportunity away from these students?

Pam Uhlenkamp,

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Tierney Hein,

Kathy Weaver,

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Community Colleges are a gate way to better things which may include a higher degree. I beleive you will find many working famialies in Iowa have gained something from a community college

Margaret Torrie,
Remember to preserve and improve the opportunities for community college programs to transfer to higher education four year education. The technical programs will provide jobs to Iowans and then the continuing education opportunity offered with the four year education must be an option.

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Dear Terry,
I am an Adjunct Instructor/Industrial Trainer at a community college here in Iowa. I cannot express how important worker training/re-training here in our state is after the loss of so many manufacturing jobs around our state. As a former Electrolux worker who has had to re-tool & re-train believe me when I say to you that we need this funding. Please reconsider cutting funding for worker training/re-training in Community Colleges in our state.

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Lily French,

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It is vital that we have a skilled workforce as Iowa tries to grow new jobs.

Jan Warwick,
Iowa needs to invest in our education of all Iowans and continue to make Iowa Colleges a good value for non-Iowans too. It is a business. The employment of Iowans in education builds a excellent tax base.

Mary Dobrochowski,
Community Colleges are such an important aspect to help people either get a two year degree, move on to a four year college or learn a trade. THE community colleges DO NOT need to see any budget cuts. It is a necessary part of community college to have these trade programs available to enhance the work force

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please don't allow the governor to cut $'s for community colleges. They are vital for training people not interested in or unable to attend universities. My husband graduated from DMACC and has a wonderful job with great pay and benefits. Iowas' community college system is an important resource and something we can all be proud of.

Bill Wittig,
Now is not the time to cut critical job training opportunities through our Community College system that all Iowan's have supported in the past. Jobs are the most critical need to our economic recovery and re-tooling workers skills to these new jobs is one of our best investments with a multiplier effect for all wages earned.

Barry Kucera,
Year after the Community College is the engine that could, fighting year after year to keep funding the same from the state has been a losing battle. Tuition keeps going up and up, keep this up and even the Community Collge will be unaffordable for the masses. Please restore the funding for Community Colleges and increase it so future tuition increases will not be needed.

Barry Kucera, Solon

Cynthia Ramer,

Mary Ellen Maynard,
Community colleges are key...our middle daughter is currently a non-traditional student at Hawkeye. It has tution that she can afford and class sizes that help her. She has 3 children,one is special needs. It make a big difference in their ability to allow her to go back to school. thank you

Rhonda Seibert,

Jim Deppe,
Public supported community colleges and 4-year state colleges are very important in educating our citizens to compete in a global economy. Its either subsidize education, or plan on building more jails. Which choice would most people prefer?

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I believe Iowa needs to be investing more in all colleges so advanced education is more affordable. I work for a company that employs technically educated employees. we consistently have trouble finding new employees that have the credentials we need. It seems that this is a theme I here from others employers that need college / advanced educated employees. Yet I here from many students that might go to college that they cannot afford it. This morning on IPR I heard Iowa had reduced its federal funding of Universities much more than the aaverage in the last several years. If we as a state and country want to maintain or improve our competitivness we need to invest in our education.

Paul

William M. Reasoner,

Susan Fuller,
If it wasn't for my community college I would have never been able to go back and get my AS in Computers. Taking away this form of education from the people that couldn't afford the bigger college is stupid.

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Too many times we realize the consequences of our decisions when it is too late. This is a time when we should be proactive and meet the needs of business & industry by funding the training and education necessary through community colleges which leads to a more trained & educated person which leads to more tax paying citizens.

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I am a 1996 graduate of Iowa Central Community College. Getting my degree was the best thing I did for myself. No one can ever take it away. Knowledge is power. Please continue to let others be powerful every day !

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My education at a community college was the key to being able to comeplete a bachelor's degree and move into a long, professional career in industry and community service.

Dr. Lonny W. Morrow,
At a time when employers are begging for skilled employees it makes no sense to cut Community Colleges. If the Governor is serious he would appropriate more training monies.

Karen Kladivo,
Please keep education affordable.

Michael Bennett,

MSgt Mark D. Brooks, USAF (Ret),
In 2002 when I was laid off DMACC was there so I could retrain and finally reenter the work force. I was able to go to school and draw unemployment and use up the last few months of my GI Education to obtain a paralegal certificate. DMACC and those programs helped me, LET THEM HELP OTHERS.

Carlisle, IA

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Please help Iowans find jobs by adequately funding Community Colleges and making them affordable. Thank you.

Ellen Chance,
I have two daughters that started at Comm. colleges last fall. My youngest daughter didn't enroll this semester because she didn't want to get too far in debt with student loans. She decided to work and save her money so she can go back next year. I hope she does.
Cutting money from any colleges is just ridiculous and typical of our Republican governor.

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Didi Loynachan,

Sue Say,
Many high school grads are interested in a trade, and not necessarily a degree. They should be given an opportunity to learn an Associate Degree or a certificate for a field that doesn't require a degree.
With the Universities' rising tuitions, many students need job training so they can work and continue on with higher education with their earnings or employer provided tuition help.

Karen Nobbs,

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Nancy Ritter,
Community colleges offer an open door to many that might not have an opportunity for an education or targeted job preparation. It is not the time to slam the door shut.

Susan Isham,

Fredi Juri,
With the many closures and layoffs in this state,vocational and technical training aren't just expendable parts of a budget; but the lifelines for the many displaced Iowans getting back to work! If anything, we should be ADDING money to the community college system.

Jim Erb,

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Key to the Governor's goal of bringing jobs to Iowa will be to have trained workforce in the state to staff those jobs. This effort in reducing the community college budget appears to be a step backward for this state in not investing in the future workforce.

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In this day and age, we need to support our community colleges for training and retraining in every way possible!

Larry & Linda Wellendorf,
This not the time to be cutting fundking for vital education that leads to jobs!!!!

Barbara Sorlie,

Dr. William and Marcie Frevert,

Ginny Wachenheim,

Charles M. Wilson,

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Please continue your support for our community colleges. They do great work.

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Mike Tramontina,
I work daily with clients of the DMACC's Workforce Training Academy and see the need for such programs and the results they can produce. I know that the other community colleges in Iowa offer similar programs. Increasingly Iowa's employers require skilled workers. It would be a major setback for workforce development and economic development to lose financial support for these programs.

Rhea Osland,
We have an excellent community college in Marshalltown. Our daughter got a wonderful education and her Associates degree at a very fair, reasonable price. We need to provide more funding for these colleges.

JoAnn Heerdt,
I went to Emmetsburg Jr College in the 60's when I had 3 little kids. I was close enough to home that my family helped take care of them.
This was when there was a shortage of teachers. I was able to teach after 2 years of college. My teachers were tough and I was able to get a good start on my education. My credits transferred to Mankato and Cedar Falls.
My son recently graduated from Emmetsburg and is now a nurse.
His son also graduated from the Estherville, Emmetsburg campus and has a good job writing for a newspaper.
My grandson-in-law is an excellent car mechanic. This all happened because we have been within driving distance of a community college.

Delora J Hade,

janice Watkins,

Carmel Benton,

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Educate, train and repeat the process. We need our community colleges to assist in this effort. Thank you for your work on this.

Chris Gaunt,

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As a former school social worker in the Des Moines Schools/AEA11 I whole heartedly support Community Colleges. Many of the students I worked with who would not be interested or able to attend college have the opportunity to receive training in areas that will be needed in our society but may not require a "University education". Community Colleges provide them with the skills to support themselves and their families. To my way of thinking, it's a lot cheaper than welfare.

Cyndra Norman,

Margaret S. Bramman,
Please help make community colleges affordable for worker training efforts, We need to have skilled and trained workers to help build the economy.

Warren Richart,
very important that everyone has an opportunity that is seeking a better job and our Community Colleges fills an opportunity and needs to be funded, not reduced.

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Nancy Millice,
Please continue to work towards good state wide financial support and reasonable tuition at our community colleges. Three of my five children, now grown, attended community colleges and today I still have one son and a daughter in law attending one for nursing and one Heating and Air. Of my five one has absolutely ridiculous student loans from graduate school and we must keep tuition down at all levels in order to make school affordable and as you say: grow the middle class once again instead of making our kids college poor due to their loans which three of my five children have. Thank you for your attention to this rather serious issue.

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Iowa needs to invest in the education of young people, the unemployed, and National Guard members now or we will pay for it later. The universities also need State funding so the middle class can afford to send their children to college.

Kathy Guilgot,
Support those community colleges - it is the quickest and least expensive way of getting students the education to obtain good jobs.

Jo Anne Duckworth,
Having a local community college, this will not only impact the great efforts they make in training skilled labor, as well as making it affordable for both traditional and non-traditional students to begin their higher education and being able to enter the job-market with well-paying jobs. Southwestern has recently begun training those for the electrical trade, which is sorely needed in this part of the state. As well, they have added numerouse programs for skilled labor to fill those demands in the area. I think this is a poor choice for cuts and additional dollars need to be added to make our Community Colleges stronger.

William A. Lester,
It is amazing...Governor Branstad wants to give corporations a big tax break and cut funding for the very programs that could help businesses have a supply of skilled workers. Personally, I would agree to everyone having a tax increase in order to fund education and research and development in this state.

Buzz R. Pounds,

Bill Orcutt,
Not all studens are in pursuit of a four-year baccalaurate degree. Our community colleges provide excellent education and training for many students and should receive at least as much support, if not more, than they currently do.

Douglas Cook,

Gary Rebhuhn,
No cuts to education please!!!!! Community Colleges are just great!!!!

Harold Blatt,
If creating good jobs and keeping our productive young workers are state priorities, how can the reduction and elimination of programs designed to maintain competitiveness be considered?

Kathleen Keefer,
Actions such as this just solidify my conviction that Republicans, no matter where they are, are not interested in people at all, but in corporations that bring personal money to their accounts.

Judy Bonnstetter,

Joyce Kitson,
Branstad killed out local high schools his last go around. Time to stand up to him about keeping college affordable for the working class students.

Susan M. Wickham,
Many adults seeking job retraining must first build the academic and computer skills required for their new careers. The developmental education courses and academic support services provided by community colleges help them make this transition. Community colleges are truly gateways to the high-tech workplace of the future. In the past few years, their resources have been stretched to accommodate an influx of students. Now they need to catch up on funding to maintain instructional quality.

Carolyn Stephenson,
In an economy based on high-tech skills, cutting the community college programs that teach unemployed/under-employed Iowans these skills just doesn't make sense. How many jobs has the Branstead administration created since the Governor took office compared to his campaign promise?

Kathryn McKinley,
Education is essential to a good workforce, healthy individuals and families, and a democratic society. Community colleges are an essential part of the U.S. educational system.

Doreen Anderson,

Sarah Dixon Gale,

Judy McDowell,
The Community College is usually the only way low income/the poor can afford an education. They need the support from the state to help them achieve their goals of further education. Please do not cut the funds that are most needed at this time.

MariBeth Lane,

Judy Patterson,
College is getting so expensive. The community colleges are vital to the young community. With the unemployment at this level, what person in their right mind would cut worker training. With so many people needing to be retrained into different areas, we can't afford to cut this.
Keep the red light and speed cameras to make some money instead of cutting, cutting, cutting. Training programs should be expanded.

Roberta Rosheim,
I agree that Community Colleges allow many people who would not be able to afford college a chance to get a better job. We need to help everyone to improve their living conditions by getting an education that allows them to find meaningful employment.

Helen Young,
Please emphasize the need for community colleges...sites for relatively low-cost schooling, necessary for training the future skilled workforce (so imperative to the current/future growth of the United State's economy)!

I strongly urge/voice an opinion to not decrease the state's financial support of the community college (where low to middle class students populate in an effort to gain affordable schooling). To raise tuition costs again would preclude a good number of potential students, not to mention shift the burden to 4-yr colleges to educate the highly skilled workforce that the community colleges currently output.

Stan Gaalswyk,

Kathy Lawler,

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A 4-year college degree is not necessary to make a good living. A technical degree is a practical option. Please do not cut moneys to community colleges.

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M.Jean Murray,

Connie Likens,

Vicki Imerman,
Please support the passage of bill SF2024

Jodie Butler,
Advanced degrees in Iowa are not an option for a bright economic future - they are a requirement! Community colleges and our Regents' educational institutions need support as much as our public K-12 schools. Investments in education now will reap benefits in the future. Let's focus on what's important and get back to education being a priority for the state.

Steven Heinlen,

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Wendy Fehr-Deitrick,