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45 Counties can help to pave the way for a unified approach to workforce development planning. The occupational focus groups' projections for job openings and training needs yield valuable information that could be used as the foundation of this unified approach by county leaders. Several themes common to ali focus groups indicate basic skills that are lacking in most new employees but desired by all employers. Applicants and new hires often do not have a clear understanding of the commitment of employment and possess poor communication skills. Many employers also find the employees they hired ten years ago need to have their skills updated in a workplace where .new versions of software are released every six months and new information becomes available daily through the wonders of the Internet. A unified approach to addressing these needs would increase the productivity of the existing workforce. Programs tailored specifically to raise the literacy level of less educated portions of the population can help to make them emp!oyable, thus increasing the available number of workers while raising the two counties' standards of living. Certification courses of short duration or two- to three-course training packages can then provide workers th~ foundational skills to get them started in the workplace. Subsequently, add-on courses or courSe packages could be provided to further train the worker for increased responsibility on the job. The study's focus groups all expressed the need and support for short, intensive courses that focused on the mastery of a single skill or set of skills. Although many employers are in need of courses tailored to their specific industry or occupation, there is a universal need for training in the "soft" skills of communication, management and business ethics. These programs of short duration can make it more affordable for employers to support their employees' training, through Either direct subsidization or the granting of time off for educational purposes. The employee completes the program having achieved a certifiable level of skills. The company itself then benefits from more immediate productivity gains, in comparison to the traditional training program built around a long-term academic credential. There exists a powerful incentive, then, from a regional perspective, for community leaders, employers, and educators to come together to design and support .a comprehensive workforce development plan for the cultivation of technical and skilled workers. This plan Should focus on the needs for training and the occupational shortages that are most .evident in the focus groups' projections and observations. At the same time, a concerted effort should be made to increase awareness among the population of the income potential and career opportuni.ties that technical and skilled occupations provide today. RCCC has long been the primary provider of work-force development training programs in Rowan and Cabarrus Counties. The college looks forwardto continuing to play a key role in the region's plans and participating in the strong partnership between business, community leaders, and educators that has been a hallmark of the region's successful past and will help to ensure its future.