Principal Financial Group has awarded a $50,000 grant in support of Des Moines Area Community College’s Information Technology and Network Administration program. The grant allows DMACC to purchase new technology and software, along with additional training stations to expand program capacity. “The DMACC ITNA program is an important resource for local employers, including Principal,” said Tara Connolly, executive director of the DMACC Foundation. “The program produces highly qualified IT professionals that are prepared to excel in IT.” The demand for qualified information technology professionals remains high in Iowa. An Economic Modeling Specialists International report in 2017 said IT jobs in the state are projected to grow by 34.6 percent from 2016 to 2026, compared with a national average of 22.1 percent.