Greater Des Moines Partnership
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the 4th largest Chamber of Commerce organization in the country, with over 6,600 member businesses. The Partnership's service area covers the following counties — Adair, Dallas, Guthrie, Jasper, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek and Warren a population of more than 828,000. The Greater Des Moines Partnership is led by business, civic and community leaders and industry experts. The Greater Des Moines Partnership serves 11 counties and numerous cities in Greater Des Moines (DSM), working to grow and enhance the region's economic and community development. Through collaborative partnerships, The Partnership recruits and assists new and expanding businesses and cultivates a talented and educated workforce.
Equitable Talent Management
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is one of seven organizations selected by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) to participate in a new national program to help strengthen chamber of commerce partnerships with community colleges and community organizations to increase the number of adult learners of color who earn an industry-relevant credential or degree. Partnerships between chambers of commerce and community colleges have the potential to significantly increase the number of adult learners of color completing high-quality, relevant short-term credentials and degrees. Given the current spotlight on upskilling and the resources that are being reallocated to fund short-term credentials, now is the time to capitalize on the potential for these partnerships.
To support the development of these partnerships, and to increase the number of workers with in-demand credentials and degrees, Lumina Foundation has provided a grant to jumpstart progress. The ACCE Foundation (ACCEF) and American Association of Community Colleges identified a virtual cohort of teams from seven cities or regions. Each team will be comprised of a chamber, a community college partner and an organization that directly represents minority communities.
The Partnership has teamed up with Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families, The Director’s Council, Oakridge Neighborhood, Children & Families of Iowa, United Way of Central Iowa’s Central Iowa Works program to identify the barriers to credential attainment and create quick-win solutions to address those challenges. They will join teams from six other regions on monthly virtual convenings to gain access to national subject matter experts, receive customized technical assistance and engage in peer-to-peer learning activities to create a strategy for longer-term collaboration to build their momentum after the grant period ends.
