Community Colleges Emerge as Key Players in $1B Build Back Better Regional Challenge
Source: Route Fifty By Daniela Altimari
Each of the 21 regional partnerships features at least one community college or technical training school.
Community colleges are big winners in a federal program that aims to spark regional economic development and train workers in emerging industries.
The Build Back Better Regional Challenge will allocate a total of $1 billion to 21 regional coalitions across the U.S. The partnerships include research universities, state and local governments, business and industry groups, nonprofits, labor unions and—in every case—at least one community college or technical training school.
In announcing the winners earlier this month, President Joe Biden highlighted the role of community colleges in training workers to compete in emerging industries and building more equitable communities, two of the challenge's primary goals. He cited a winning project in Georgia that will receive $65 million to speed up the adoption of artificial intelligence across a variety of sectors. The Georgia AI Manufacturing Coalition is led by Georgia Tech but also includes historically Black colleges such as Spelman College and local technical training colleges.
"Technology experts will provide workers who are interested in four- to six-week hands-on training that can make all the difference in their employment,'' Biden said. "Think of a poultry farmer who might never have had a chance to learn how ... artificial technology can help manage inventory or improve safety and quality while increasing their productivity. Think of a family-owned paper manufacturer that could never have afforded trying out cutting-edge technologies, but now they’re going to be able to. And they’re going to be able to grow their businesses. And they can do it without ever leaving their home or their families. This is a game-changer."