Strengthening the Rural Workforce through Collaborative Design
We partner with rural workforce collaboratives across the Southeast to co-design equitable reskilling and upskilling pathways that connect learners to high-demand careers and position community colleges as engines of regional economic mobility.
How might we support rural workforce collaboratives in the Southeast to co-design equitable reskilling and upskilling pathways that directly respond to regional employer needs and connect learners to high-demand careers?
OVERVIEW
Strengthening the Rural Workforce through Collaborative Design is an Education Design Lab initiative that partners with rural workforce collaboratives across the Southeast to co-design new workforce pathways that expand equitable reskilling and upskilling opportunities, respond directly to regional employer demand, and connect rural learners to high-demand careers. The project brings together community colleges, workforce boards, employers, and community-based organizations to use human-centered design, shared data, and cross-sector collaboration to position rural institutions as engines of economic mobility in their regions.
Rural communities are strongest when they work together, but workforce systems are too often fragmented and disconnected from the lived experiences of rural learners…This project brings employers, colleges, and community partners to the table from the start, using human-centered design to co-design pathways to good jobs while also strengthening the entire regional ecosystem.
Dr. Matt Newlin
Senior Education Designer, leads rural-focused initiatives at the Lab
IMPACT
We don’t just design programs — we design for system-level impact.
We change systems by centering New Majority Learners in a collaborative process that results in a ripple effect of transformation across multiple levels, from individual programs and colleges, to regions and state systems.
We measure progress through four elements of change that signal system transformation:
Education Design Lab’s leadership in reaching this milestone underscores the impact of thoughtful, community‑driven design…At Truist Foundation, we believe lasting economic mobility is built when employers, educators, and communities design solutions together — and this initiative reflects that belief in action. We are proud to support efforts that bring our purpose to life, connecting people to opportunity today and helping rural regions thrive for the long term.
Lynette Bell
head of Truist Philanthropy and president of Truist Foundation
OUR FUNDERS
Arizona Community Foundation
Jeffrey H. and Shari L. Aronson Family Foundation
Ascendium Education Group
Autodesk
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Carnegie Corporation of New York
*Invested directly in CUNY
Citizens
deLaski Family Foundation
Garcia Foundation
Gianforte Family Foundation
Charles Koch Foundation
Patrick J. McGovern Foundation
The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation*
Robin Hood Foundation*
Walmart.org
Walton Family Foundation
ZOMA Foundation
OUR COLLEGES
(grouped in systems where applicable, and listed alphabetically)
- South Arkansas College
- Arkansas State University, Newport
- Arkansas State University, Three Rivers
- Arkansas Tech University, Ozark Campus
- East Arkansas Community College
- North Arkansas College
- Northwest Arkansas Community College
- University of Arkansas, Rich Mountain
Austin Community College District (Texas)
Bunker Hill Community College (Massachusetts)
- LaGuardia Community College
- Kingsborough Community College
- Queensborough Community College
- Borough of Manhattan Community College
Community College of Allegheny County (Pennsylvania)
Community College of Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)
Community College of Rhode Island
College of Eastern Idaho
- Arapahoe Community College
- Colorado Northwestern Community College
- Community College of Aurora
- Community College of Denver
- Lamar Community College
- Northeastern Junior College
- Pueblo Community College
- Red Rocks Community College
Ivy Tech Community College (Indiana)
- Rio Salado Community College
- Chandler-Gilbert Community College
- Mesa Community College
- Scottsdale Community College
- Alexandria Technical and Community College
- Central Lakes College
- Hennepin Technical College
- Riverland Community College
- Saint Paul College
- Dawson Community College
- Flathead Valley Community College
- Miles Community College
- Great Falls Community College MSU
- Helena College
- University of Montana Western
- City College at Montana State University Billings
- Gallatin College MSU
- Missoula College UM
- UM Bitterroot College
- Highlands College Montana Tech
- Montana State University Northern
- Salish Kootenai College
Northern Virginia Community College
- Hudson Country Community College (New Jersey)
Prince George’s Community College (Maryland)
Roxbury Community College (Massachusetts)
Seattle Colleges (Washington)
- SUNY Dutchess Community College
- SUNY Ulster
- Rockland Community College
- Orange County Community College
- SUNY Westchester Community College
- SUNY Sullivan
Tulsa Community College (Oklahoma)
RESOURCES
March 2026
Multiplier Effect of Impact Investing
The Multiplier Effect of Impact Investing — for every $1 of seed investment by philanthropies to the Education Design Lab’s Community College Growth Engine, participating community colleges were able to unlock $8 in public and private funding to advance micro-pathways.
12 pages
NOVEMBER 2025
Colorado’s Community College Innovation
The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) partnered with Education Design Lab to center learners and employers in designing a statewide, stackable, skills-based education model in behavioral health.
12 pages
JULY 2025
Micro-Pathways Macro Impact
Impact by Design is one of the Lab’s publication series aimed at showcasing impact. These are meant
to capture momentum in time and should be considered alongside other Lab publications and as part
of a larger series of ongoing efforts to share the Lab’s impact.
12 pages
MEDIA
Workforce Pell is finally here. What will it take to get it to work?
CCDaily
Why community colleges should embrace depth over breadth
Higher Ed Dive
Have we found the gateway to transform community colleges?
CCDaily