Economics

the data about these jobs is based on the  7-county region which is the entire Kirkwood Community College service area.

around 26,000 jobs (20,000 of which are in CR)are manufacturing based with an average  pay of $69,000!

so with that above average pay how that translate into the greater economy... looking at just one industry with in the corridor is   The grain processing industry is a big deal in Cedar Rapids directly providing 4,000 jobs also providing 8,000 jobs indirectly

Quaker Oats, which is the world's largest cereal mill plant

Also the world’s largest ethanol complex is in Cedar Rapids

Disposable Income Levels

Most jobs that people are in make some where around 30k a year unless they are an engineer or some other highly trained professional.

So if the average factory worker is making some where around 50-80K+ a year that would lead to more income that they could spend how they would like since Cedar Rapids Iowa has a low cost of living compared to the coasts and other hip places.

They can buy more cars more often big monster trucks :)

Better entertainment options could buy season tickets to the Hawkeyes football game or at least get a cable package that offers all sports channels and a DVR so they could re-watch or watch it when they would like to.

Banking

A lot of the credit unions got started by the factory workers in the area

Collins Community Credit Union, Veridian Credit Union, Dupaco Community Credit Union, Quaker Oats Credit Union & more I will have a full webpage about Credit Unions.

Education

Public Library

Cedar Rapids Westside Library was named after a retired factory worker...

"Cedar Rapids' new west-side branch library is being named for Marilyn Ladd, a former test technician at Rockwell Collins who without fanfare or strings left the library a gift of almost $750,000 at her death a year ago"

http://www.thegazette.com/2012/12/06/cedar-rapids-to-rename-west-side-library-branch-to-honor-large-gift

Kibbie Grant

The Kibbie Grant, also called the Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant, is for Iowa residents enrolled in specific programs at Iowa community colleges.

Those eligible for the Kibbie Grant could have half their tuition paid for, for up to two years. http://www.kirkwood.edu/kibbie

If the factory closed down then said worker could get unemployment and a retraining package at kirkwood.

Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Technologies

Healthcare & IT degrees and other options to be retrained but if someone spent the last 20-30 years in a factory how open to retraining and how open would employers be to hiring someone like that?

For one thing I would say that Red Wing shoes is very profitable and successful because factories  have shoe stipend allowance for employees money to buy work shoes and most go to places like this . 

https://www.lawinsider.com/clause/work-shoe-stipend 

https://www.mossadams.com/articles/2018/march/determining-if-employee-clothing-is-tax-exempt

https://www.commerce.gov/hr/practitioners/compensation-policies/general-pay/uniform-allowances 

The MAC have a pool sauna hot tub & really nice gym. I think 2/3 of the members get some form of discount lot of people from Quaker Oats General Mills and other factories. The Y may also do something like that.