Community colleges are transforming to better align with regional economic needs, driven by rapid changes in the workforce and evolving student expectations, says Erika Liodice of the Alliance for Innovation and Transformation. Institutions such as Yavapai College and Arizona Western College are rethinking their business models, technology and culture to provide more flexible and relevant education. "Community colleges and technical colleges are becoming more than educational providers. They're becoming the heartbeat of these innovation hubs around the country that are creating and scaling new industries," Liodice says.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed expanding New York's free community college program, SUNY and CUNY Reconnect, to include additional high-demand fields such as logistics, air traffic control, transportation and emergency management. This initiative, currently open to adults aged 25 to 55 without a degree, has already enrolled over 11,000 students in its first year. The expansion aims to increase access and enrollment even further, with no cap on the number of students, and is expected to serve hundreds more as new fields are added.

The University of Dayton has introduced Flyer Nest, a capstone course that guides students in developing scalable business ideas. Since its launch in fall 2024, the course has supported 12 teams, with two continuing their ventures post-graduation. Flyer Nest partners with the Ohio Entrepreneurial Services Provider program and the Ohio Third Frontier Technology Validation and Start-Up Fund to provide mentorship and investor connections.