As the Coastal Bend’s business population becomes more varied, thanks to new industries moving in as well as expanding local operations, a well-educated workforce is more vital than ever.

Enter the region’s community colleges and universities, which are not only strong partners with area economic development agencies for workforce development and specialized training, but which also offer community and lifestyle courses for residents who just wish to expand their knowledge.

“We are definitely a part of the economic development fabric of the area,” says Bud Harris, dean of workforce and economic development at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. “We prepare individuals not only to enter the workforce, but also to continue on to receive a four-year or advanced degree. But it’s in giving people occupational skills, and working with employers when they introduce new technologies into the area, that we play a critical role.”

Del Mar College, Coastal Bend College and other educators work in tandem with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi as feeder schools and as training and education partners. The academic cooperation is much appreciated by the business community, which relies on all these institutions to keep its workforce up to date.

“A very aggressive community will always be bringing in new business, and the university will get you here,” Harris says. “The community colleges will keep you here, because we’re going to provide the individuals and support you’ll need after getting the research and other services from the university. All of us, independently and together, add incredible value to the area.”

For their part, the community colleges also have become adept at drilling down into the next generation of workers, ensuring a steady stream of qualified employees for multiple industries now and into the future. Occupational and vocational training, as well as dual-credit programs, are offered at Coastal Bend College and others to allow high-school students to take college classes as upperclassmen, thus getting a jump on their college career.

By being as forward thinking as possible now and remaining nimble as new needs arise, the colleges and universities have cemented their place in local business development continuum, Harris says.

“We have so many opportunities now and in the near future in terms of jobs that are going to be very positive for our community,” he says. “Here at Del Mar we have developed many new programs and also have opened a center for economic development, so we can respond to the community by working with employers and agencies throughout the area. We’re working to ensure that they’ve got a good shot at attracting new industries, and I think we have the potential to see many more good things here.”