88500
EDUCATION CODE
SECTION 88500
88500. The mission of the economic and workforce development program, subject to approval and amendment by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, all of the following: (a) To advance California's economic growth and global competitiveness through high quality education and services focusing on continuous workforce improvement, technology deployment, and business development, consistent with the current needs of the state' s regional economies. (b) To maximize and leverage the resources of the California Community Colleges to fulfill its role as the primary provider in fulfilling the vocational education and training needs of California business and industry. (c) To work with representatives of business, labor, and professional trade associations to explore and develop new alternatives for assisting incumbent workers. A key objective is to enable incumbent workers to become more competitive in their region's labor market, increase competency, and identify career paths to economic self-sufficiency and lifelong access to good-paying jobs. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, career ladder approaches. (d) To collaborate with other state and local agencies, including partners under the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-220), and the Technology, Trade, and Commerce Agency, to deliver services that meet statewide and regional workforce, business development, technology transfer, and trade needs that attract, retain, and expand businesses. (e) To develop local economic development agencies, the private sector, and labor and community groups, innovative solutions, as needed, in identified strategic priority areas, including, but not necessarily limited to, advanced transportation, biotechnology, small business, applied competitive technologies, including computer integrated manufacturing, production and continuous quality improvement, business and workforce improvement, environmental technologies, health care delivery, multimedia/entertainment, international trade, and workplace literacy. Strategic priority areas that may be explored if new or additional funding becomes available may include information technology, e-commerce and e-trade, and nanotechnology. (f) To identify, acquire, and leverage community college and other vocational training resources when possible, to support local, regional, and statewide economic development. (g) To create effective logistical, technical, and marketing infrastructure support for economic development activities within the California Community Colleges. (h) To optimize access to community colleges' economic development services. (i) To develop strategic public and private sector partnerships. (j) To assist communities experiencing military base downsizing and closure.