Cook County Higher Education

Programs: To provide locally offered courses and degree programs and provide student support services to sustain those students. In 2014, 75 students enrolled in certificate, diploma, or degree programs that resulted in living wage employment in the region, largely in health care and business fields. College classes were offered in collaboration with 6 regional colleges, the nearest of which is located over 100 miles away. Cche provided classroom facilities, advising, mentoring, study skill workshops, and after hours accesst to computer lab. A total of 31,214 scholarships were awarded to 46 residents. The cche advisor had over 3000 one-to-one student contacts. To date cche has served over 3, 750 cook county residents - over 70% of the county population.

to provide workshop and training programs, classroom facilities, business support services, advising, and advertising. In 2014 cche offered 45 workshops with 1,365 attendees. Workshops were presented utilizing local and regional experts and in collaboration with regional organizations and colleges including lake superior college, advanced minnesota. Deed, university of minnesota extension, northeast minnesota office of job training, northeast entrepreneur fund, and the small business development center (sbdc). Topics addressed business training and development needs as requested by employers and employers and include business leadership, software programs, and customer service. Transferred sbdc offices and contract to the local economic development authority on april 1st, 2014. Sbdc provides local workforce to the region; cche collaborates with sbdc to identify and offer business training needs.

technology - to expand and equip the computer labs and classrooms to host events demonstrating the benefits of broadband, to grow our local knowledge workers, and to address digital inclusion. Expenses included purchasing, installing, & maintaining desktop and laptop computers; computer stations; audio-visual equipment; neat membership (which entails access to interactive television network and support services); operating pcs for people computer depot (51 reduced cost computers were distributed to community residents in 2013), and internet access fees to provide high speed internet access in a community with limited to non-existent access in the home. The computer labs provide space for study & research, mentor meetings, and as classrooms. The classrooms and labs also serve as a community resource for itv access to attend meetings for high school professionals, county offices, and other organizations, and as a telework space for area professionals.