State works to keep young adults in Iowa

In an effort to keep young Iowans working and living in the Hawkeye State, Iowa lawmakers passed -- and Gov. Chet Culver signed -- the Generation Iowa Bill, which creates a 15-member commission dedicated to keeping the state appealing to the young professionals.

The Generation Iowa Commission will consist of members ages 18-35 from diverse ethnic, political, and geographical backgrounds. As of May 8, around 125 hopefuls living in 20 different counties across Iowa had submitted applications to the governor's office.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Elesha Gayman, D-Davenport, who said she is pleased by the public's interest.

"Just by the number of applications, it's easy to see this is a generation that is really hungry to get involved," she said. "This is really giving young people a voice."

The commission will work on three levels, she said. It will make legislative recommendations at the beginning of the legislative sessions, develop a guidebook for Iowa businesses on how to attract and keep young employees, and develop new jobs for younger individuals under the Department of Economic Development.

Iowa estimates the state will have a shortage of 150,000 skilled workers by 2012, so the legislation is extremely important, Gov. Chet Culver said in a press release.

"The purpose of this commission is really twofold," said Courtney Greene, Culver's press secretary. "It's going to work to retain the young people who are living in the state but also give an incentive for those who have moved away to come back."

The commission won't likely be established until the beginning of July in order to allow adequate time to review the applications, Greene said.

Kristi Lohmeier, a 29-year-old Iowa City resident who applied to be on the commission, said she is excited to see her generation so involved with the government.

"So many younger people are disconnected because they're so interested in getting their careers off the ground and their own lives," she said. "It's about time my generation gets re-engaged."

Lohmeier also stressed the importance of getting the word out and letting people know the state offers exciting and challenging jobs.

"I grew up in the Quad-Cities, and I never pictured myself working in Iowa City," she said. "I think if people go away to school, a lot of the time graduates just don't think to come back to Iowa."

But Lohmeier found a job she really likes at the Iowa Policy Projects in Iowa City, a nonprofit group that works to engage Iowans in state policy decisions, according to the organization's website. She hopes the commission will increase job opportunities and educate Iowans about what the state has to offer.

"With the right people on this commission, a lot of great things can come of it," Lohmeier said.

(C) 2007 The Daily Iowan via U-WIRE