Why It Matters
Des Moines Area Community College’s new workforce training center in Ankeny, Iowa, represents a $34 million commitment to expanding skilled trades education at a time when demand for qualified tradespeople, diesel technicians, and first responders continues to outpace available workers. The federal funding announcement adds momentum to ongoing efforts by Iowa lawmakers to align education spending with the state’s economic development priorities.
What Happened
U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn appeared at DMACC’s Ankeny campus Monday to announce that the college has secured $2 million in federal Community Project Funding for a new academic facility currently under construction. The building will host programs in building trades, HVAC, diesel mechanics, Ford automotive training, and fire science.
Nunn was joined by Polk County Supervisors Mark Holm and Jill Altringer, along with DMACC administrators and private-sector partners. DMACC Interim President Chiang Lee Wee said the federal dollars represent an open invitation for additional partners to contribute to the project and its programs.
Construction is underway after DMACC broke ground on the facility last autumn. The college financed the bulk of the project through a $30 million bond sale, with the DMACC Foundation actively raising the remaining $2 million beyond the federal contribution. The facility is scheduled to open in January.
By the Numbers
- $34 million — Total estimated project cost
- $30 million — Bonds sold by DMACC to finance construction
- $2 million — Federal Community Project Funding secured through Rep. Nunn
- $2 million — Remaining amount the DMACC Foundation is working to raise
- 72,000 square feet — Total size of the planned facility
- January — Target opening date for the new building
Inside the Facility
The 72,000-square-foot structure is being designed with hands-on learners in mind. Plans call for flexible work bays, equipment labs scaled to accommodate large vehicles and machinery, tool rooms, classrooms, conference areas, and dedicated student lounges and study spaces.
Jenny Foster, DMACC’s executive academic dean for manufacturing, engineering, trades, and transportation, said the building is designed for students “who want to learn by doing.” Jeanie McCarville-Kerber, executive academic dean for health sciences and community services pathways, noted that fire science students will train in simulation labs built to replicate real emergency conditions.
Brad Gehring, vice president of procurement and asset management at Ruan Transportation Management Systems, said graduates from the new facility will help meet a growing statewide need for skilled professionals. Des Moines Fire Chief Jonathan Lund echoed that view, pointing to an increasing demand for emergency services personnel as industry and public safety sectors compete for qualified workers.
Nunn noted that even high-growth technology fields such as artificial intelligence depend on skilled tradespeople to build and maintain physical infrastructure, making early exposure to trades education at the high school level an important policy discussion.
Zoom Out
Workforce training investment has accelerated across the country as manufacturers, utilities, and public safety agencies report persistent shortages of qualified technical workers. Community colleges have emerged as a primary vehicle for addressing those gaps, with federal Community Project Funding — formerly known as earmarks — frequently directed toward campus construction and equipment upgrades tied to regional labor-market needs.
In Iowa, the effort aligns with a broader legislative push to strengthen the state’s workforce pipeline. Iowa lawmakers addressed several workforce and economic development measures in the final stretch of the 2026 legislative session, reflecting continued bipartisan interest in education tied to job placement.
E15 Legislation Also on Nunn’s Agenda
Following Monday’s announcement, Nunn told reporters he is pursuing a standalone legislative push this week to advance year-round availability of E15 — a fuel blend containing 15 percent ethanol — after language on the issue was not included in the farm bill the House passed at the end of April.
Nunn said he remains optimistic after Vice President JD Vance visited Iowa on May 5 and voiced support for year-round E15, alongside President Trump. Several organizations, including the Keep Fuel Affordable Coalition and the United Steelworkers, have raised concerns about potential cost increases and the impact on the Small Refinery Exemption program.
What’s Next
DMACC officials and the DMACC Foundation will continue fundraising to close the remaining financing gap on the facility. Construction is expected to proceed toward the January opening. On the legislative front, Nunn said he intends to bring E15 legislation to the House floor this week, with support from Iowa’s congressional delegation.