ICR’s population is growing faster than the national average. Not only do we have people seeking new opportunities, we’re also attracting individuals who want to return to ICR when the right opportunity becomes available. With an annual pipeline of thousands of graduates from the University of Iowa, Coe College, Cornell College, Mt. Mercy University, and Kirkwood Community College, our local employers regularly report that we have some of the best, brightest, and most ethical workers in the nation.
Educated. Talented. Growing.
Talent Attraction
ICR Talent Hub
The ICR Talent Hub is a pool of professionals interested in new career opportunities in Iowa City-Cedar Rapids. Candidates are identified through targeted marketing campaigns implemented by ICR IOWA and then connected with local employers through bi-weekly electronic lists. What makes these candidates unique? Their interest in moving (or moving back) to ICR! They are identified through campaigns that specifically target professionals who want to be here, which often leads to a higher capture rate and a longer retention rate. We talk with each candidate individually to identify their skills, interests, and hopefully an ideal career match.
Employers must be members of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance or investors in the Iowa City Area Development Group at the $1,000+ annual level to receive ICR Talent Hub candidates.
For more information, contact Tom Banta at tbanta@icadgroup.com.
Handshake
Handshake is a network that allows employers to connect with college talent across the nation. The platform is used by all of the colleges in our region and over 700 university career centers nation-wide. The platform allows your job postings to reach multiple schools across Iowa, the Midwest, and the nation.
Iowa Layoffs
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) offers protection to workers, their families, and communities by requiring employers to give 60 days advance notice of covered plant closings and mass layoffs. A log of the notifications issued in Iowa can either be downloaded in PDF form or viewed directly in a dashboard maintained by Iowa Workforce Development. For employers searching to fill openings, the WARN notices can provide insight into workers who may be searching for new opportunities.
Marketing Tools
Attracting talent from outside our region takes more than just the promotion of a job….it takes the promotion of our amazing communities. ICR IOWA has developed a variety of resources our local recruiters can add to their own toolkit to promote Iowa City-Cedar Rapids as an amazing place to live.
Candidate Website: add this website link to the recruiting page on your website and national job postings to showcase the region as an amazing place to live.
Career Fair Booth Materials for New Grads: add an ICR IOWA banner and rack cards to your career fair booth to promote the region along with your job opportunities. The materials are designed to appeal to new college graduates and designs are free. Let us know if you need access to certain files for your printer of choice.
Significant Others: share a link to the ICR Talent Hub to help your candidate identify job opportunities for a significant other.
Candidate Brochure: share a copy of our candidate brochure with your hopeful hire when they come for a job interview. The brochure includes a pocket that is ideal for other materials including tourism and livability guides. A limited number of brochures are provided free of charge to Economic Alliance and ICAD investors. Employers can access those copies by sending a request to ICR Iowa at info@icadgroup.com. Employers may also order copies of the brochure for the cost of printing through ICR IOWA.
Candidate Tours: arrange a tour of the community with a Wingman, a community ambassador who can showcase the region during a candidate visit. Note: Wingman candidate tours are free for employers who invest in the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance or the Iowa City Area Development Group at the $5,000+ annual level.
Career Fairs
A variety of career fairs are held annually by local organizations and schools including:
Corridor Career Fairs
Website
Contact: Liz Kennedy, 319-368-8970, Liz.kennedy@thegazette.com
Kirkwood Career Fairs
Contact: Danielle Ebaugh, danielle.ebaugh@kirkwood.edu
University of Iowa Career Fairs
Website
Contact: Allan Boettger, Pomerantz Career Center, allan-boettger@uiowa.edu
Iowa State Career Fairs
Website
University of Northern Iowa Career Fairs
Website
Concierge and Newcomer Services
Wingman
Wingman is a program designed to help Iowa City-Cedar Rapids (ICR) newcomers navigate their new home. Through the program, newcomers are connected to a Wingman, a community champion with a robust network and knowledge of Iowa City – Cedar Rapids (ICR). Our Pre-Flight Checklist is used to match newcomers with the ideal Wingman, a first friend who can answer questions, make connections, and help our newest neighbors take flight in ICR IOWA!
Newcomer Resources
Give your candidates and newcomers the best experience possible in Iowa City-Cedar Rapids by leveraging these resources, provided at no cost by ICR IOWA and our partners:
Candidate and Newcomer Website: make sure your candidates and newcomers from outside the region have access to the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids (ICR) candidate and newcomer website by sending them the link early on in your recruiting process.
Diversity Resource Guides: share our online diversity resource guides with candidates and newcomers who may benefit from them.
Wingman: arrange a tour of the region with a Wingman during candidate interviews and make sure your newcomers enroll in the newcomer program. Note: the concierge portion of Wingman is provided at no cost for employers who are members or investors at the $1,000+ level with the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance or the Iowa City Area Development Group.
Significant Others: make sure candidates know about the ICR Talent Hub as a way to seek assistance for a significant other who may need a new job opportunity in ICR.
Finding Interns
The colleges and universities in ICR use a national platform called Handshake to connect students with internships and jobs. If you are searching for an intern, you should consider posting the opportunity on Handshake to connect with local candidates.
For additional information or seek assistance in developing an internship program, contact:
University of Iowa Pomerantz Career Center
Contact: Allan Boettger, allan-boettger@uiowa.edu
Website: https://careers.uiowa.edu/employers/internships
Coe College
Contact: Barb Tupper, 319-399-8662, btupper@coe.edu
Website: https://www.coe.edu/academics/coe-difference-centers-and-programs/center-creativity-careers/careers/employers
Cornell College
Contact: Jason Napoli, 319-895-4458, jnapoli@cornellcollege.edu
Website: https://www.cornellcollege.edu/berry-career-institute/Internships-research-opportunities/index.shtml
Mt. Mercy College
Contact: Nate Klein, 319-368-1323 or ext. 1630, nklein@mtmercy.edu
Website: https://www.mtmercy.edu/career-services
Kirkwood Community College
Contact: Danielle Ebaugh, danielle.ebaugh@kirkwood.edu
Workplace Learning Connection (high school internships)
Contact: Sarah Shepherd, 319-398-2584, sarah.shepherd@kirkwood.edu and Sue Neil, 319-398-4828, sue.neil@kirkwood.edu
Website: http://www.kirkwood.edu/site/index.php?p=38584
Ignite ICR
Ignite ICR is a program for college students and interns working in the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids (ICR) region. This summer event series gives students the opportunity to meet one another, explore our incredible culture, connect with young professionals, and imagine a future for themselves in ICR. Ignite ICR is hosted by the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and Iowa City Area Development Group.
EVENTS FOR 2021
June 7th, 2021 – Seeking Mentorship in Your Organization & Making the Most of Your Summer in Iowa City – Cedar Rapids
You’ve landed a internship with a company that is going to give you great experience this summer, but what will you do to experience what Iowa City – Cedar Rapids as to offer outside that internship? Learn about can’t miss places, events and weekly happenings all throughout the region.
Professional Skills – You have spent much of your first few weeks of your internship being introduced to countless people within your organization with their name and a quick description of what they do. These quick introductions are great when getting to know people within your new organization but what if you are looking for a deeper connection within an industry, you’re looking to make a career out of? Mentorship can be a great option to act as a career sounding board, impart their years of experience and maybe help you avoid pitfalls that they personally experienced. But how do you go about finding a mentor, what do you look for in one and how might you approach someone about if they would be willing to mentor you?
June 18, 2021 – Leading in a Non-Leadership Position & The Great Outdoors
Between hundreds of miles of bike trails both urban and rural, state parks and waterways there is no shortage of options to enjoy the great outdoors in Iowa City – Cedar Rapids.
Professional Skill – Leadership is not just a skill reserved for managers, non-managers and yes, even interns can display leadership daily within their organization. However, finding opportunities for leadership as an intern can be a bit more challenging. Join us to learn how to actively seek out leadership opportunities and display leadership every day during your internship.
July 8, 2021 – Acing Your Elevator Pitch Workshop
Have not had a chance to practice your elevator pitch lately? What is the purpose of having one prepped, anyways? An elevator pitch is a simple and professional way to introduce yourself to social and business connections in a quick and compelling way. However, putting a polished one together that is ready to go at moment’s notice takes a little extra prep work. Join us for a virtual workshop to learn how to begin crafting or take your elevator speech to the next level.
Events in Iowa City, May – September 2021
Friday Night Concert Series: Summer of the Arts invites the community to come out and get to know fabulous, local musicians! Running mid-May through August, this festival kicks off the summer season. Stop by and enjoy free, live entertainment!
Northside Concert Series: Mark your calendars for the 2021 Northside Concert Series: on July 10, August 21, and September 11, we will hold a special concert on North Linn Street, among some Iowa City’s beloved restaurants and shops. Check back for this year’s lineup!
Summer of the Arts Free Movie Series: Like the Terminator, we promised we’d be back — on the big screen! Enjoy some popcorn with us as we bring new venues to our 2021 Free Movie Series. The first movie will be on May 29 and run through the end of August with a special Halloween showing on October 2. More information to come.
Music on the Move: Music on the Move will feature two performances in two different neighborhoods on six Wednesday evenings in June, July, and August. More information to come.
Free Outdoor Yoga Classes: Join the instructors from Hothouse Yoga in downtown Iowa City for FREE yoga classes every Sunday all summer long!
Iowa City Jazz Festival: What’s the Summer of the Arts without a little razzle jazz-le? Take part in our live 2021 Jazz Festival on the weekend of July 2-3, and listen to renowned local and national musicians! Click HERE for the schedule.
Coralville 4th Fest: The multi-day festival includes a 5K run / walk entertainment, food, a free concert on July 3, the area’s largest Independence Day parade, free family-friendly activities in the park, and fireworks on July 4.
Iowa Blues Festival: With the 2020 blues behind us (hopefully) let’s look forward to our 2021 Soul and Blues Festival! Join us live on the weekend of July 30-31. More information to come.
Iowa Arts Festival: Who wants to live in a world without art? Not us! Join us for the 2021 Iowa Arts Festival on the weekend of August 13-15 (that’s right, folks). More details to come.
Big Grove Summer Jam Concert Series: Every Sunday at 1pm, Big Grove Brewery will have a FREE concert from a local musician.
Film Scene in the Park: FilmScene in the Park is an outdoor cinema built in partnership with the Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department located at Chauncey Swan Park. Regular Screenings between April and October highlight a diversity of all ages programming.
Iowa City Farmer’s Market: An open-air farmer’s market happening every Wednesday (5-7 p.m) and Saturday (7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.) at the Chauncy Swan Parking Garage in the heart of Iowa City.
Coralville Farmer’s Market: Every Monday evening from 4:30–6:30pm, shop your favorite vendors surrounded by dozens of stores, restaurants, and attractions in Eastern Iowa’s top retail destination, the Iowa River Landing.
Events in Cedar Rapids, May – October 2021
Freedom Fest – From June 14-July 4 in 2021, thousands of Eastern Iowa residents and visitors join together to celebrate our nation’s birthday by enjoying the many events and activities of the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival. More than 400,000 area residents and visitors attend the Freedom Festival each year. The Freedom Festival begins in June and culminates with the annual Celebration of Freedom Fireworks on July 4th.
Rock the Block – NewBo City Market series of outdoor concerts.
Meet Me at the Market – Thursdays June-September, enjoy outdoor exercise on the lawn.
Uptown Friday Nights – Brought to you by the Cedar Rapids Jaycees, enjoy a summer full of live music Friday nights at McGrath Amphitheatre.
Cedar Rapids Tourism – Check out other fun events happening throughout Cedar Rapids!
Cedar Rapids Kernels – Enjoy our local baseball team, The Kernels!
Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market – The Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market, presented by Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, has become one of the largest open-air markets in the Midwest. The 8-market season runs from June-September on select Saturdays in Downtown. Join us!
VenuWorks – There are so many events to enjoy this summer, find a whole calendar of great venues and events to try.
African American Museum of Iowa – The African American Museum of Iowa is the only statewide museum devoted to preserving African American history and culture, with a mission of exhibiting and teaching the African American heritage of Iowa. The museum educates over 30,000 people each year through museum tours, traveling exhibits, research services, youth and adult education programs, and community and fundraising events. Visit the museum to see the collection and exhibits that trace Iowa’s African American history from its origins to the present.
The History Center – The mission of The History Center is to provide a unique community resource that preserves and shares the stories of our past and connects people of all ages to the present and future of Linn County. The History Center is dedicated to connecting the past to the present and future of Linn County and are passionate about making our history both accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library – Learn about Czech and Slovak heritage with educational exhibits, and an extensive gift shop.
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art – Enjoy free admission throughout July and August! Visitors can expect engaging and educational art exhibits including works by Grant Wood, Mauricio Lasansky, Marvin Cone, and more.
Brucemore – Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a 19th-century mansion, filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families. Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.
Bloomsbury Farm – Bloomsbury Farm was homesteaded in 1856. Dave Petersen, the 5th generation to take over the Farm – along with his wife Karen, started the agri-tourism business in 1994. Their daughters Jessica and Samantha are also both a big part of the business. In years since, it serves as a destination for thousands of Eastern Iowans each year who want to get away from city lights and take in a beautiful, living, breathing farm.
Linn County Trails – Did you know bike trails can get you throughout the region? Explore all of the establishments, eateries, scenic passages and street art throughout our region, on two wheels. Ride your bike to the Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market on select Saturdays this summer, or day-trip throughout Cedar Rapids.
Download the Ignite ICR Itineraries card to explore the area!
Inclusive ICR
Formerly Employee Resource Group Consortium (ERGC)
A coalition of local employers and organizations working together to support and grow inclusion and diversity in our workforce. The coalition meets monthly with a focus on:
- Developing diversity and inclusion resources for employers.
- Connecting diverse professionals through social and professional networks.
- Increasing the number of diverse high school and college students who intern with ICR employers.
Training Opportunities
Kirkwood Corporate Training
Looking for assistance in customized training programs for your staff? Connect with the Corporate Training Team at Kirkwood Community College! They offer scheduled training products along with customized options and support for the development of apprenticeships, earn and learn models, and more.
Eastern Iowa Human Resource Association (EIHRA)
The Eastern Iowa Human Resource Association is an affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management. Whether you are new to the HR field or have many years of experience, they are a great local starting point for networking, information, professional development and continued support of excellence in Human Resources. EIHRA hosts a variety of valuable training opportunities throughout the year.
Employers' Council of Iowa (ECI)
Employers’ Council of Iowa (ECI) is an advisory group, located in each Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) region, and offers no-cost membership open to all businesses in the community. Its purpose is to guide IWD’s business focus, address topics of concern to employers, sponsor training initiatives, and assist IWD in meeting critical human resource needs.
Local Contact: Kate Pine at katherine.pine@iwd.iowa.gov
Workshop Calendar
Iowa Workforce Development
Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) offers a variety of services to benefit employers, including recruitment assistance, tax credits to hire new employees and outreach to targeted groups. Their programs include:
Hire A Veteran (Home Base Iowa)
Business Services
Employer Incentives
Contact: Kate Pine at katherine.pine@iwd.iowa.gov.
Employers Council of Iowa - Region 10
Employers’ Council of Iowa (ECI) is an advisory group, located in each Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) region, and offers no-cost membership open to all businesses in the community. Its purpose is to guide IWD’s business focus, address topics of concern to employers, sponsor training initiatives, and assist IWD in meeting critical human resource needs.
Contact: Kate Pine at katherine.pine@iwd.iowa.gov
ICR IOWA Workforce Coalitions
ICR Talent: Talent Attraction and Retention
ICR Talent is a coalition of employers and organizations working together to attract and retain talent in ICR. The coalition guides a collection of strategies designed to attract and retain new talent in high-demand occupations in ICR.
Current strategy teams include:
- ICR Talent Hub: Recruiting High-Demand Talent
- Wingman: Concierge and Newcomer Service
- Ignite ICR: Recruiting and Retaining College Interns
Contact: Tom Banta at tbanta@icadgroup.com
Join the Mailing List!
Inclusive ICR: Diversity and Inclusion
Inclusive ICR is a coalition of employers and organizations working together to support and grow diversity and inclusion in our regional workforce. The coalition guides a collection of strategies designed to support employers, employees, and students.
Current strategy teams include:
- Employer Resources: provides resource to ICR employers looking for guidance on implementing diversity and inclusion (D&I) workforce initiatives including: Employee Resource Group (ERG) implementation, D&I advisory council development, and connecting staff with colleagues and resources in ICR.
- Employee Resources: develops, supports, and promotes region-wide networks and resources that allow diverse professionals to connect, engage, and thrive in ICR.
- Student Resources: connects employers with resources to help them build programs and connect with diverse candidates for their internship positions.
Contact: Tom Banta at tbanta@icadgroup.com
Join the Mailing List!
ICR Future: Developing our Future Workforce
ICR Future is a coalition of employers, educators, and organizations working together to make Iowa City-Cedar Rapids (ICR) the best place in the nation for career-connected learning.
Current strategy teams include:
- Career Exploration and Pathways Program of Studies
- Work-Based Learning
- Computer Science
- Problem-Based Learning and 21st Century Skills
Contact: Tom Banta at tbanta@icadgroup.com
ICR Future Career-Connected Learning Hub
Join the Mailing List!
ICR Iowa Sector Partnerships
Sector Partnerships are comprised of diverse businesses within an industry, as well as education, workforce, economic, and community organization partners. These business led partnerships develop goals and strategies, and implement and evaluate strategies to meet the workforce needs of a given industry.
Click on the following link to see how industry sector partnerships in the ICR Iowa Region are working together to assist students and the available workforce in completing an interest assessment and exploring careers opportunities right here in the ICR Iowa region that align with their personality type.