Advancing Pennsylvania Through Community Colleges

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COMMUNITY COLLEGES – WHY WE ARE ESSENTIAL:

NON-CREDIT WORKFORCE TRAINING

The Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges urges the inclusion of funding in the 2025-26 state budget for community colleges to support non-credit workforce development training. 

Community colleges are essential because they provide accessible and affordable higher education, offering a pathway for students to gain valuable skills and career training, often tailored to local job markets, making us crucial for workforce development and economic growth, particularly for low-income and first-generation students who may not otherwise have access to college.

This funding will equip Pennsylvanians with job-ready skills for in-demand industries, such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and information technology. This addresses workforce shortages by quickly training and upskilling workers, particularly in regions with high unemployment or underemployment rates. Non-credit programs are agile, allowing community colleges to adapt quickly to employer needs without the time constraints of credit-based curricula. 

COMMUNITY COLLEGES serve as vital engines of workforce development, supporting the economic stability and safety of communities across Pennsylvania.

Please click the links below to read how we are Advancing Pennsylvania through Community Colleges:

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For content questions, please contact: Lil Nesbit, [email protected]