Gov. Kim Reynolds joined area leaders, innovators and many of the proud residents at the opening ceremonies for the first rural Forge in Jefferson on Saturday. This event is an example of the culmination of efforts through private-public partnerships and the governor’s initiatives to harness the entrepreneurial spirit and technological innovations that exist across the state. “Rural Iowa stands at a crossroads in the digital revolution and harnessing public-private partnerships like The Forge is fueling a rural renaissance in small towns across our state,” Reynolds said. “The Forge demonstrates what’s possible when a shared vision meets drive and ambition, and it will serve as a launch pad for cutting-edge careers, a hub for life-long learning and a model for small towns across our state and country.” At The Forge, organizations will collaborate with Accenture in utilization of advanced digital technologies to transform businesses. They will also help prepare the future workforce for the digital economy by providing local community college students with commercial software development training. Accenture announced a partnership with Corteva earlier this year to launch the Rural Scholarship Program through The Forge. This includes a $187,000 investment to fund 25 awards for Iowans from 39 rural communities.
