281—25.2(260) PACE program. The pathways for academic career and employment program (hereinafter referred to as PACE) is established to provide funding to community colleges for the development of projects that will lead to gainful, quality, in-state employment for members of target populations by providing them with both effective academic and employment training to ensure gainful employment and customized support services.
	25.2(1) Target populations. Individuals included in target populations are those individuals who meet one or more of the following:
	a. 	Are deemed by definition to be low skilled.
	b. 	Earn incomes at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level.
	c. 	Are unemployed.
	d. 	Are underemployed.
	e. 	Are dislocated workers.
	25.2(2) Eligibility criteria for projects. Projects eligible for funding for PACE are to be projects that further the ability of members of target populations to secure gainful, quality employment; that further partnerships linking community colleges to industry and nonprofit organizations; and that further the following program outcomes:
	a. 	Enabling members of the target populations to:
	(1)	Acquire and demonstrate competency in basic skills.
	(2)	Acquire and demonstrate competency in a specified technical field.
	(3)	Complete a specified level of postsecondary education.
	(4)	Earn a national career readiness certificate.
	(5)	Obtain employer-validated credentials.
	(6)	Secure gainful employment in high-quality, local jobs.
	b. 	Meeting economic and employment goals, including:
	(1)	Economic and workforce development requirements in each region served by the community colleges as defined by local advisory boards established pursuant to Iowa Code section 84A.4.
	(2)	Needs of industry partners in areas including but not limited to the fields of information technology, health care, advanced manufacturing, transportation and logistics, and any other industry designated as in-demand by a local advisory board established pursuant to Iowa Code section 84A.4.
[ARC 7653C, IAB 3/6/24, effective 4/10/24]