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.  In July 2025, the Bureau of Iowa College Aid announced its newest LCANs with the Columbus Junction LCAN and the First to Finish LCAN in Des Moines.

Since the first LCANs were formed in 2015, more than $4 million has been invested in 23 communities in Iowa to increase college and career attainment.

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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New LCAN Grant Program Applications

Informational meeting for new LCAN grant applicants (recording)

The Bureau of Iowa College Aid expects to be accepting Local College/Career Access Network (LCAN) grant proposals from new applicants for the FY2027 grant year during the winter and spring of 2026, for grants beginning July 1, 2026.  More information on the grant application process will be announced at a later date.

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

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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FY26 LCAN Grant Calendar

LCAN Grant Calendar
DatesActivity
Jan. 28 - March 10Accepting applications from new communities
Feb. 6Informational meeting for new applicants
March 3 - April 1New applicant grant review
April 1FY26 continuation and sustaining grant renewals due
July 1Start of FY26 grant contract period
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Iowa LCANs

In July 2025, the Bureau of Iowa College Aid announced its two newest LCANs with the Columbus Junction LCAN and First to Finish in Des Moines. These two LCANs join two other active LCANs and a community in Perry that has completed the four-year grant cycle and is receiving funding to sustain its efforts. 

FY26 LCAN Map

Year I

  • Columbus Junction
  • First to Finish (Des Moines)

Year II

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

Year IV

  • Math Pathways to Success (statewide)

Sustaining Grant

  • Future Ready Perry 
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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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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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LCAN Newsletter

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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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Resources

Collective Impact Theory and Research Resources

Partner Resources

Postsecondary Data

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