On May 1, Hilary Chebra, Manager of Government Affairs testified at a Joint Legislative Special Meeting on Higher Education held by the Senate Higher Education Committee and Assembly Higher Education Committee. The CCSNJ was asked to participate to discuss the Chamber’s collaboration with community colleges in the area of workforce development.

In her testimony, Ms. Chebra highlighted the strong partnership that the CCSNJ has with the institutions of higher education in the region, noting that every institution of higher education at the university and county-level in South Jersey are active members. She went on to discuss the challenges that South Jersey's workforce has faced due to the pandemic and the integral role that community colleges played in the training and reskilling of the region's workforce.

Additionally, Ms. Chebra explained the crucial role that community colleges served in addressing the needs of new industries that will help to diversify the region's economy, such as the emerging offshore wind, e-sports and cannabis industries. Specifically as it relates to the wind industry, community colleges, including Rowan College of South Jersey and Atlantic Cape County College, have responded to the demand for a skilled workforce by partnering with industry leaders to create training programs tailored to the industry's needs. All of these programs and initiatives the CCSNJ has been proud to support.

Ms. Chebra concluded her remarks on an optimistic note, commenting that the CCSNJ continues to explore creative ways to collaborate with the region’s leaders in academia with more to be announced later this year.

To read the full CCSNJ testimony, click here.