In this chapter, we outline the activities and partnerships that are typically a part of a community's effort to attract new business and industry. A key factor in the recruitment process is community partnerships. A community must convince prospective business clients that relocation to a new area, which is an expensive venture for any company, is worth the costs. Competition among the regions, states, and even localities is fierce and, therefore, demands that all of the resources available through community partnerships be brought to bear in the recruitment process.
It is important for the local community college to be a player in the recruitment effort. This involvement of the college can range from a minority partnership in the process to leadership in contacting recruiters and relocating clients.
The primary role of the community college is typically to facilitate and broker training. In some cases, this is a major incentive in a company's evaluation of a community3 attractiveness. In other cases, issues such as quality of life and incentives offered by the local community are more important than the training issue. The community college must, therefore, have a balanced view of its role in the community partnerships that are vital to success when recruiting business and industry.
Partners in the Recruitment Process
Both the direct and the indirect roles that community colleges play in recruiting new business and industry are important. Community college officials need to understand how they can support economic development councils, cities