WASHINGTON —- On Wednesday, February 22, 2012, Dr. Jill Biden and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis will kick off a three-day "Community College to Career" bus tour to highlight the unique role community colleges play in developing a flexible, highly-skilled 21st-century workforce to meet emerging regional business needs. Dr. Biden, a community college instructor for 18 years, and Secretary Solis, who began her career in public service as a community college trustee, will hear from the students, educators, and employers driving these innovative partnerships.
Earlier this month, President Obama announced a new $8 billion Community College to Career Fund, co-administered by the Department of Labor and Department of Education, to forge new partnerships between community colleges and businesses to train two million workers with skills that will lead directly to jobs.
The tour will begin in Columbus, Ohio and will end on February 24, 2012 in Thomasville, North Carolina. Other stops include Centerville, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; Lexington, Kentucky; Harriman, Tennessee and Wytheville, Virginia.
The White House is also calling on community college faculty, students, business and community leaders to join the conversation by sharing how these partnerships have impacted communities around the country. People can submit their stories through WhiteHouse.gov at and follow and engage with the tour on Twitter with the hashtag # https://owa.dol.gov.
At 1:45 PM on Thursday, February 23 Dr. Biden and Secretary Solis will participate in a discussion about Roane State Community College's successful industry partnerships. The event will be held at the Tennessee Technology Center in Harriman, Tennessee.