Focus on Business-Community College Partnership Will Help Fill Vacant Jobs
WASHINGTON, D.C. — April 16, 2014 — The National Network of Business and Industry Associations (the National Network) today applauded efforts by the Administration to better align education with skills employers need through the fourth round of grants under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT).
“Better collaboration between community colleges and employers is an essential part of closing the gap between what students learn and what employers need,” said John Engler, president of Business Roundtable, an operational partner of the National Network.
While the National Network is focused on business sector leadership on the issue, it is encouraged that the last round of TAACCCT grants is focused on the partnership between business and community colleges.
"This fourth round of grants shows two significant developments: first, it directly connects business and industry associations as scaling partners with community colleges so that the curriculum that prepares students to achieve industry-recognized credentials for in-demand jobs can be made available across the nation," said Parminder K. Jassal, founding executive director, ACT Foundation, which co-operates the National Network. "Second, we are encouraged that this latest round of funding will incentivize community colleges to actively engage with groups and not single employers to expand options for qualified workers and not subject them to the ups and downs of any one company's business cycles."
The National Network represents major business sectors and is funded through a collaborative partnership of Business Roundtable (BRT), ACT Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Joyce Foundation and Lumina Foundation. Members include leaders in the manufacturing, retail, healthcare, energy, construction, hospitality, transportation and information technology sectors. They represent the source of nearly 75 percent of projected U.S. job growth through 2020 (an estimated 30 million new jobs). More information on the National Network can be found here.
Inaugural Members of the National Network of Business and Industry Associations include:
Aerospace Industries Association
American Health Information Management Association
American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute
American Land Title Association and ALTA’s Land Title Institute
American Moving and Storage Association
American Public Transportation Association
American Welding Society
Center for Energy Workforce Development
CompTIA
Home Builders Institute
Interstate Renewable Energy Council
The Manufacturing Institute
National Apartment Association Education Institute
National Center for Construction Education and Research
National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence
National Institute for Metalworking Skills
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
National Retail Federation Foundation
Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute
TechAmerica/TechAmerica Foundation
Western Association of Food Chains