Local College Access Networks

Local College & Career Access Networks (LCANs) aim to increase college attainment using a framework known as Collective Impact. The Bureau of Iowa College Aid provides grant money to fund an LCAN Coordinator, travel, training, and other costs associated with creating the network and carrying out LCAN initiatives. 

Each LCAN assesses the assets and needs of its community and works to fill the gaps in partnership with local colleges, school districts, area education agencies, business groups, elected officials, employers and community, and religious organizations. LCANs identify multiple community goals that focus on increasing college attainment.

 

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The LCAN Grant Program is Accepting New Applications

The Bureau of Iowa College Aid will be accepting Local College/Career Access Network (LCAN) grant proposals from new applicants for the FY2026 grant year.  Applications will be accepted through Iowagrants.gov from January 28 through February 28, 2025, for grants beginning July 1, 2025.  

LCAN is a multi-year grant program that offers funding and consultation from the Bureau of Iowa College Aid. The program equips communities to hire an LCAN Coordinator, build a cross-sector team, and sustain efforts over time to increase college and career access in their community.  

In order to be eligible to apply, communities must identify an organization with 501(c) status to serve as fiscal agent on the reimbursement-based grant.  Strong 501(c) organizations to serve as fiscal agents are:

  • embedded in the community with the ability to convene cross-sector leaders
  • fiscally sound with robust financial operations; and 
  • strong in their capacity for grants administration.

Priority will be given to applicants that:

  • Represent a geographic area of need
  • Demonstrate commitment to closing postsecondary achievement gaps, including those experienced by:
    • First-generation college-going students
    • Students from low-income backgrounds
    • Students with disabilities 
    • Students who are English language learners
    • Students of color

Please refer to the FY26 LCAN grants calendar for important dates in the grant application cycle.  Please reach out to Anne Thomas (anne.thomas@iowa.gov) or Megan Sibbel (megan.sibbel@iowa.gov) if you are interested in learning more about how to become an LCAN community.   
 

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2024 LCAN Meeting

Brother to Brother LCAN and DMACC Logo
2024 LCAN Meeting

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than 30 Iowa Local College & Career Access Networks (LCANs) staff, partners and community members gathered in Des Moines for its annual meeting. 

Will Thomas and Wesley Harris, both leaders of the Brother to Brother LCAN in Des Moines, provided space and support for the meeting at the DMACC Urban Campus.

The LCAN program is led by the Community Engagement Section of the Bureau of Iowa College Aid. 

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FY26 LCAN Grant Calendar

LCAN Grant Calendar
DatesActivity
Jan. 28 - Feb. 28Accepting applications from new communities
Feb. 6Informational meeting for new applicants
March 3 - April 1New applicant grant review
April 1Initiate internal contract process
June 1FY26 budget and certifications/agreement due from returning LCANs
July 1Start of FY26 grant contract period

 

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Virtual Presentation Library

LCAN and Collective Impact in Iowa - Feb. 22, 2022

LCAN Coordinator Gathering Recordings - Oct. 14, 2021

A Framework for the Future: Raising College Attainment Through Collective Impact - Jan. 28, 2021

Iowa LCAN Year 1 Grant Application Workshop - Feb. 25, 2021 (Watch A Framework for the Future, first.

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Key Partners

The Iowa Department of Education's Bureau of Iowa College Aid works with communities across the state to address workforce needs and increase educational attainment through the Local College & Career Access Network (LCAN) grant series. Iowa College Aid provides consultation and funding to select Iowa networks, using the Collective Impact framework to increase college attainment at the local and statewide level.

  • Community colleges
  • Area private colleges
  • PK-12 school districts
  • Area education agencies
  • Chambers of commerce
  • Community action agencies
  • Community foundations
  • County or city elected officials
  • Economic development agencies
  • Traditionally underserved communities/populations
  • Faith communities
  • Major employers
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Public libraries
  • Service organizations
  • Workforce development agencies
  • Sector boards
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Iowa LCANs

FY25 LCAN Map

Year I

  • Attendance Counts
    (Allamakee, Clayton, Dubuque, Jackson counties)

Year III

  • Math Pathways to Success (statewide)

Year IV

  • Brother to Brother

  • Future Ready Perry

Sustaining Grant

 

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LCAN Grant Series

Iowa College Aid offers a four-year series of grants to Iowa communities to build Local College & Career Access Networks using the Collective Impact framework. The LCAN grant series is intended as seed funding for locally driven collaborative measures. Iowa College Aid also welcomes applications from initiatives that are focused on serving a specific population within Iowa. Sustainability of LCANs and their initiatives should be considered beginning in the exploratory phase of the grant process and will be addressed throughout the grant series. View Grants-at-a-Glance 3.0 for a high-level view of what the grant funds; funding amounts and match requirements by year; grant deliverables for each year, and a summary of how each year progresses, building on the previous year.    

For more information on Collective Impact or the LCAN Grant series, contact Anne Thomas or Megan Sibbel.

 

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Resources

Collective Impact Theory and Research Resources

Partner Resources

Postsecondary Data

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