In 2005, the Heldrich Center conducted research on state efforts to engage community colleges as cornerstones of their comprehensive economic development strategies. Recognizing the unique and substantial role community colleges can play in meeting companies’ workforce needs, the study examined states’ efforts to use community colleges as key resources for attracting, maintaining, and supporting key employers in their states. Ten states were selected for in-depth examination based on recommendations from national economic and workforce development experts and a review of the research literature. The study included interviews with senior state and local community college and economic development professionals and reviews of state websites and scholarly studies. The study report summarized the efforts of these states to deploy community colleges in support of state economic development priorities.

Products:

Deploying Community Colleges to Strengthen State Economic Development (executive summary) (October 2005)

Deploying Community Colleges to Strengthen State Economic Development (full report) (October 2005)