Obama Seeks To Partner Businesses, 2-Year Colleges

In a new attempt to improve job growth in the country, President Obama is looking to partner companies and labor unions with two-year colleges. The proposal comes after Congress scaled back the President’s attempt to pump billions of dollars into community colleges.

According to USA Today, Obama is also asking public-private partnerships and philanthropies to help the schools produce a well-educated workforce.

On Monday, he announced an initiative through which companies, labor unions and two-year colleges in 50 states would collaborate to improve job training and workforce development.

Today, he is scheduled to address business leaders, educators, and others at a White House summit aimed at better aligning learning with workforce goals.

"We want to make it easier to join students looking for jobs with businesses looking to hire," Obama said Monday at the start of a meeting with his economic recovery advisory board. "We want to put community colleges and employers together to create programs that match curricula in the classroom with the needs of the boardroom."

Continue reading at USA Today.com…

Where the Jobs Are

Although many taxpayers across the county are having trouble finding employment, there are a few communities with thriving job markets. CNNMoney.com posted an interesting story on the 25 counties that have experienced the most job growth. I have included two of the cities that made the list below, but you can see the full slideshow here.

1. Lincoln County, SD

Towns include: Sioux Falls

Job growth (2000-2009): 67.0%

Even though it's almost 1,200 miles away, Lincoln County wasn't immune to the financial crisis that rocked Wall Street.

Too-big-to-fail banking giants Citibank and Wells Fargo call this area home -- but Lincoln county isn't all dollars and wide open spaces. A strong retail and healthcare presence helped keep the county going strong when banks were on the brink.

Sanford Health and Avera Health are currently the county's largest employers, and they're expanding. Both are building regional clinics and treatment facilities in the area. A major cancer treatment facility is scheduled to be completed by late 2010.

2. Williamson County, TX

Towns include: Cedar Park, Round Rock

Job growth (2000-2009): 58.9%

Dude, they got Dell! With the computer manufacturer as the county's largest employer, Williamson County has a tech-savvy workforce that helps draw other businesses to the area.

Continue reading at CNN.com…