Chamber Joins Governor, Mayor, Civic Leaders in Call for Community College Reform

The Chamber’s Executive Vice President Jim Klocke today joined Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, and business and civic leaders at a meeting and press conference supporting community college reform across the Commonwealth.

Attendees cited the importance of community colleges to area businesses, to Massachusetts residents, and to the state’s economic competitiveness.  The Governor’s proposed overhaul of Massachusetts’ community colleges was a prominent theme in his State of the Commonwealth address last night. The initiative includes the merger of all 15 state campuses into a unified system, and $10 million in new funding for the system’s workforce development initiatives.

Stronger community colleges are critical to realizing the full potential of the Massachusetts economy.  The Chamber will work with leaders in the business, education, civic and government sectors in the months ahead for passage of community college reform legislation.

Read more about the Governor's proposal.