Partnerships between chambers of commerce and community colleges have the potential to significantly increase the number of adult learners of color completing high-quality, relevant short-term credentials and degrees. Given the current spotlight on upskilling and the resources being reallocated to fund short-term credentials, now is the time to capitalize on the potential for these partnerships.  According to Dr. Jermaine Whirl, President of Augusta Technical College, “Providing a skilled workforce to the Augusta region is part of our core mission and increasing the number of credentials earned by citizens in our community is our number one priority.”  

Lumina Foundation has provided a grant to jumpstart progress to support the development of these partnerships and increase the number of workers with in-demand credentials and degrees. The ACCE Foundation and American Association of Community Colleges identified a virtual cohort of teams from nine cities or regions. Each team will comprise a chamber, a community college partner and an organization that directly represents the community. 

The Augusta Metro Chamber will team up with Augusta Technical College and other workforce partners to identify the barriers to credential attainment and create quick-win solutions to address those challenges. They will join teams from nine other regions to gain access to national subject matter experts, receive customized technical assistance and engage in peer-to-peer learning activities to create a strategy for longer-term collaboration to build momentum after the grant period ends.

The other communities participating in the program include Lafayette, Louisiana; Memphis, Tennessee; Moore County, North Carolina; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Odessa, Texas; Sumter County, Georgia; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and York County, Pennsylvania.