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College, about 75 percent of today's jobs require technical training, but not a four -year degree. This is part of the reason that our regional unemployment is higher than the national average. Long before the 2008 recession, manufacturing was changing. Charlotte USA was already reeling from a decline in traditional sectors such as furniture, textiles and tobacco. And the jobs that were created to replace them in advanced manufacturing require higher -level skills. A good example is in Kannapolis. When Pillowtex closed, thousands of people lost their jobs. Replacement jobs in biotechnology at the North Carolina Research Campus are ones for which those displaced Pillowtex workers were untrained. However, Rowan Cabarrus Community College has implemented biotech programs to train both young and older workers for jobs in the new economy. RCCC also has R3, a career development center that at no charge helps unemployed or underemployed adults compare their abilities and credentials with job opportunities, then develops plans to fill skills gaps. In Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is arguably a national leader in workforce development. CPCC is working closely with Siemens, among other companies, to help train people to fill hundreds of newly created jobs. Tomorrow, the college and the Charlotte Regional Partnership are co- sponsoring a daylong careers conference highlighting opportunities in the energy sector. Details are at www.cpcc.edu /energy / . The same story is repeated in every one of our 16 counties, as our 10 community and technical colleges step in to help our workforce develop the skills necessary in today's workplace. (Watch " The Doors to Opportunity to see how businesses have benefited.) However, even as the need for technical education grows, these institutions are receiving less and less federal and state support. As John Silvia, chief economist at Wells Fargo Securities, told the Charlotte Business Journal's Erik Spanberg, we are in a knowledge -based economy, and there are fewer opportunities for the less- educated. So, with a high concentration of manufacturing and white collar jobs, such as those in financial services, Charlotte USA has been hit from both sides, with those in the middle affected as well. We know why our region has been hit harder than others around the county — and we know what to do about it: continue to diversify our economy and ensure our workforce is well trained. The Charlotte Regional Partnership markets our regional assets — outstanding accessibility, a strong labor pool, a pro- business environment and an unparalleled quality of life — to develop Attachment number 3 1 -1 Page 626