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Talking Points for Community College Bonds Why are community colleges important to local communities? Commllnity colleges are a mai~ economic engine in local commtlnities, 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 oft. he first things a new or expanding industry looks at is the ability of the local community college to provide specialiTed training for employees. The health of the local economy is directly linked to the health of the local ¢ornrmm~ty college. W~.y does the community college system need the $600 million bond issue? Since I963 when the system was established, commllnity colleges have provided accessible, affordable education to students who either choose n°t to attend or can't afford to attend a four-year university. However, for the first time in their histoxy, North Carolina community colleges have had to cap enrollment and limit classes because_ of deteriorating facilities, lack of: classroom space and increasing enrollment. This situation comes at a time when North Carolina is depending on an educated workf0rce to ensure its prosperity and its ranking as one of the best places in the country to do 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 58,000 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 for repairs and renovations and the other Pot is for con~ixaction.