Empower Erie's ultimate goal is to establish a Community College in Erie, PA as a way to improve the overall educational attainment and household income of Erie County residents, meet employers’ current and future needs for skilled workers, make Erie a more attractive place for businesses, and create more good-paying jobs.
There is an urgent need for affordable, accessible post-secondary job training in Erie County. The existing post-secondary education and job-training opportunities are either very expensive or are not readily accessible to a large percentage of those in need of them.
Erie is the most populous region in the state without a Community College. The current climate is resulting in a population of under-educated young people from Erie County entering the local job market at an increasing rate over the next generation. It’s time to stop debating whether we need a Community College and start demanding that we get one!
County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper will host a series of events featuring County Council members and members of the Empower Erie team at local high schools. The meetings will pro...
Empower Erie has created empowererie.org, and information on the community college effort can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.
...Fifty years ago on April 3, the state created a system of community colleges that ushered in dramatic growth in the network of schools that now enroll 300,000 students.
...Community colleges are beginning to receive more attention as students realize they are able to receive certification and degrees in a shorter period of time for less money.
...The survey of 500 randomly-selected Erie County residents was conducted in late February and early March as part a state-required feasibility study.
...Recently I read that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo pledged to cover tuition costs at state colleges for hundreds of thousands of middle- and low-income New Yorkers.
...Our first Empower Hour attracted more than 100 business, non-profit and community leaders in support of an Erie County Community College.
...Thursday evening event gives business, community leaders an opportunity to learn more about the community college proposal.
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