WASHINGTON, DC (October 21, 2026) — New America's Future of Work & Innovation Economy initiative and the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT)'s Center for Policy & Practice today released a new research brief titled How Community College Trustees Can Bolster Economic Development.
Drawing on a first-of-its-kind national survey of community college presidents and trustees, the brief finds that college leaders see economic development as central to their mission, but face barriers in fully realizing the impact of their institutions on state and local efforts to attract, retain, and improve the quality of jobs for the benefit of their students and communities. Presidents and trustees especially emphasized a desire to strengthen relationships with economic-development agencies at the state and federal levels and to navigate the impact of advanced and emerging technologies on their regional economies.
Powered through an investment from JPMorgan Chase, the brief is the first publication under the Accelerator for Community Colleges in the Innovation Economy–a strategic initiative New America launched with the U.S. National Science Foundation in 2024 to build the capacity of two-year college partners in federally funded tech-based economic development and regional economic development initiatives.
In February 2026, New America and ACCT partnered to scale the Accelerator across the entire community college sector with an initial focus on leveraging college governance for capacity-building and bolstering work-based learning.
"From AI to quantum ecosystems to the bioeconomy, community colleges have a critical role to play in efforts to not only respond to discrete needs of employer partners but to actively partner on efforts that grow their local economy, especially around advanced technologies," said Shalin Jyotishi, Founder and Director of New America's Future of Work & Innovation Economy initiative. “We’re delighted to release the first brief from the Accelerator for Community Colleges in the Innovation Economy in partnership with ACCT as we work to expand opportunities for trustees and presidents to seize the potential of community college partnerships for economic growth.”
“Community colleges contribute to a variety of workforce and economic development initiatives in their regions,” said Steve Jurch, ACCT Associate Vice President for the Center for Policy and Practice. “This brief and partnership with New America has affirmed for us a need to support our members in better leveraging governance as a lever for capacity-building and partnerships. We look forward to doing that in the year ahead.”
In addition to survey insights, the brief highlights five case studies of trustee–president collaborations for institutional capacity-building in support of regional economic development: Harper College in Illinois, Northeast Community College in Nebraska, Austin Community College in Texas, Monroe Community College in New York, and Columbus State Community College in Ohio.
Leaders of these institutions served on the President-Trustee Advisory Committee guiding the project. They offered the following comments in commemoration of the release:
"Community colleges are often at the center of economic development efforts because we see firsthand the challenges and opportunities within the communities we serve,” said Monroe Community College President DeAnna Burt-Nanna. “In regions where poverty and inequity can limit access to opportunity, support from federal agencies, philanthropies, and policymakers empowers trustees and presidents to build partnerships, strengthen workforce pathways, and create meaningful avenues to unbridle emerging, stranded, and dormant talent for economic mobility.”
“Public-private partnerships are the foundation for innovation and economic impact in Central Ohio,” said Columbus State University Trustee Sandy Doyle-Ahern and President David Harrison. “Columbus State’s leadership in workforce development is driven by alliances with like-minded partners including employers, government agencies, and philanthropic organizations.”
“Community colleges are the glue that brings together what employers, communities, and students need to build a future that works for everyone. We can’t do that work alone. It takes strong partnerships across government, industry, philanthropy, and education, along with the trust and resources to let local leaders act on what their communities need most,” said Austin Community College (ACC) Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart. “At ACC, that support allows us to make bold, informed investments in what’s next. When national partners invest in local leadership, community colleges can turn innovation into real opportunity and make sure that opportunity reaches the people and communities who need it most.”
“Community colleges are the catalyst for regional prosperity and contribute to our nation’s global competitiveness. And transforming a workforce to meet the demands of advanced technology doesn't happen in a silo. It takes a coalition of visionary higher education leaders, philanthropic support and government champions. When this strong network of public and private partners rallies behind our institutions, we are empowered to take bold, forward-looking steps,” said Harper College President Avis Proctor and Walt Mundt, Vice Chair, Harper College Board of Trustees. “These investments provide the critical fuel Harper College needs to bridge the gap between education and industry, ensuring our students are equipped to lead in the innovation economy.”
“When I go to Washington, I can share what is happening on the ground in rural Nebraska and what our students, employers, and communities need to be successful. Community colleges cannot do this work alone,” said Steve Anderson, Northeast Community College board member. “Relationships with policymakers, federal agencies, and philanthropic partners help us advance economic development opportunities and ensure rural communities have a voice in the decisions and investments that affect their future.”
The brief will be publicly unveiled during the 2026 ACCT Leadership Congress in Chicago, October 21–24, 2026. The full brief is available at this link. New America and ACCT invite college leaders interested in engaging with the Accelerator for Community Colleges in the Innovation Economy to complete this form.
About New America: Our mission is to generate big ideas and bold solutions for a new America. We envision an America that represents and serves the public, where institutions work for all Americans, where workers, families, and communities can thrive, and where people are secure from existential threats. Learn more at newamerica.org.
About ACCT: The Association of Community College Trustees is a non-profit educational organization representing more than 6,500 trustees who govern over 1,000 community, technical, and junior colleges across the United States and beyond. Learn more at www.acct.org.