Obama to pitch plan on colleges at economy meeting

President Barack Obama in Washington, September 30, 2010. REUTERS/Jim Young

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will announce new initiatives to encourage partnerships between private industry and community colleges when he meets with a panel of economic advisers on Monday, U.S. officials said.

Obama will attend a discussion of the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board at 2 p.m. EDT at the White House.

The economic panel is chaired by former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker and includes private economists, business leaders and former policymakers. The announcement on community colleges kicks off a focus on those institutions this week.

Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, will lead a summit on the topic on Tuesday. The White House has touted community colleges as critical to long-term growth because they can help workers acquire the skills they need for a changing economy.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, White House Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Austan Goolsbee, Commerce Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and Education Secretary Arne Duncan will also attend the event.

Source: Reuters

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