Obama Cites Community Colleges as Key to Recovery

                  Community College leaders across Oregon applauded President Barrack Obama’s $12 billion proposal that
would put the nation’s 2-year colleges at the center of revitalizing the U.S. economy.

“In this recession, we’ve seen how community colleges are really economic first-responders for unemployed Oregonians,”
said John Turner, President of Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton and chair of the Oregon Presidents Council,
which comprises all Oregon community college presidents.

“The President’s proposal recognizes that colleges are getting displaced workers the skills and training they need to get back
into the workplace and are critical to the recovery.” Turner said.  “He’s hit the nail right on the head.”

Obama's new initiative includes $2.5 billion for construction and renovation at the nation's community colleges, $500 million
to develop new online courses and $9 billion for "challenge grants" aimed at spurring innovation and expansion in the 2-year sector.

Unveiling his plan Tuesday, Obama sited rapid growth in enrollment at colleges nationwide and projections showing that jobs
requiring at least an associate degree will  grow twice as fast as jobs requiring no college experience.

 “They are also capable of working with businesses, industry and government to create tailored training programs to meet
economic needs such as nursing, health information technology, advanced manufacturing, and green jobs, and of providing
customized training at the worksite,’ Obama said.

In Oregon, colleges have seen first-hand the kind rapid growth the President cited.  Across the state, enrollment at community
colleges is up 12 percent over last year.

Obama’s proposal will next go to Congress, where the Education and Labor Committee will begin working on legislation to
enact the program.  As a member of that committee, and a founding member and co-chair of the Congressional Community
College Caucus, Oregon Congressman David Wu will be directly involved in crafting the bill.  Wu has already begun engaging
community college leadership in Oregon on the package.

“Community colleges are essential to our economy’s short-term recovery and long-term growth. 
Working with the Obama administration, I will continue to help the federal government serve as
a partner in that effort,” Wu said.  

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