Index AR Solutions is celebrating the successful completion of a three-year partnership with Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) and MidAmerican Energy, a collaboration that has built a sustainable talent pipeline for the energy workforce.

Launched in 2022, the initiative was designed to connect students eager to pursue high-paying, long-term careers with utilities in need of highly trained skilled workers. Through the partnership, Index created augmented reality training tools and eBooks that enhanced Electric Utility Program classroom instruction at DMACC and prepared students for the realities of the energy industry. By combining immersive technology with hands-on learning, the multimodal training program helped students understand complex concepts, practice in safe environments, and build lasting confidence.

The success of the initiative has been recognized as a national model for how technology providers, educational institutions, and employers can collaborate to address workforce challenges. In the first year of the program, 14 of 15 students graduated and 13 accepted job offers with one month of graduation at an annual starting salary range of $60-72K. A case study written by Chartwell Inc. in 2024 reported how interest in the DMACC program tripled in its second year. Retention was also notable, with one utility reporting that after three years, more than 80% of the students accepted from the program remained employed with the company.

This month, the multimodal training program will be showcased on a national stage at T&D World Live 2025, where MidAmerican Energy, DMACC, and Index AR Solutions will present the results of their collaboration to utility leaders from across the country.

The impact of the partnership continues to resonate. Index remains committed to advancing workforce development with its other large clients, building on the achievements of the MidAmerican-DMACC-Index collaboration and by continuing to explore new ways to empower students, educators, and employers alike. Index is currently working with universities and health care systems on similar multimodal learning initiatives.

Extending its gratitude to DMACC and MidAmerican Energy for their vision and trust, Index looks forward to future opportunities to help prepare the skilled workforce of tomorrow.