Agenda - 09-19-2000-5b - Laserfiche WebLink

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._._ 3 Talking Points for Community College Bonds Why are community colleges importaet to local communities? Community colleges are a main economic engine in local communities, providing training and retraining for 700,000 students (150,000 of them full-time) at 59 campuses across the state. It is a fact that one of the first things a new or expanding industry looks at is the. ability of the local community college to provide specialized training for employees. The health of the local economy is directly linked to the health of the local community college. Why does the community college system need the $GDQ million bond issue? Since 1' 963 when the system was established, community colleges have provided accessible, affordable education to students who either choose not to attend or can't afford to attend aforr-year university. However,. for the first time in their history, North Carolina community colleges have had t4 cap enrollment and limit classes because of deteriorating facilities, lack of . classroom space aad increasing enrollment. - . This situation comes at a time when North Carolina is depending on ~ educated workforce to ensure its prosperity and its ranking as one of the best places in the country to da business. The overcrowding at community colleges has meant that some businesses have delayed expansions or taken their investments elsewhere because workers could not be trained. The situation will only get worse. The community college system projects a 30 percent increase in enrollment by the end of the decade. That is the equivalent of SS,000 new students. Bonds would pay for needed upgrading, repairs, renovations and new construction to keep community college education accessible for North Carolina's citizens. How would the money be allocated? The bond package for community colleges is $600 million. The money is split into two pots. One pot is far repairs and renovations and the other pot is for construction.