DES MOINES, IOWA — A program that provides skilled trades training to Des Moines Public School students is is expanding thanks to a new grant. Avenue Scholars works with DMPS to provide much needed training in high demand jobs that had disappeared from the school system. Last week the organization announced the receipt of a significant grant from the Thomas and Linda Koehn Foundation that will provide resources for the next five years to expand the program.

Avenue Scholars plans to use the new funding to hire a career coach, expand to new industries and provide financial support to students to help prepare them to successfully begin apprenticeships and jobs.

Avenue Scholars expects to have an enrollment of 250 students across all five Des Moines high schools in the fall of 2025.3