Community colleges have long been recognized for their success in providing affordable access to higher education for all and for serving the nation's workforce needs. Their substantial civic and cultural contributions are now also capturing the attention of businesses and of policymakers at the highest levels of government. Why? Because research shows that art, design, and culture are integral to developing and strengthening an information- and technology-based economy: (1) Creative communities attract talent and jobs; (2) Growth in demand for technology-based jobs that incorporate arts and design is outpacing the national average job growth rate; (3) The U.S. industries that are most likely to continue producing their goods within the United States are those that rely on expertise in technology, fashion, and design; and (4) Arts- and crafts-based enterprises produce significant wealth for local and national economies. By mining the creativity and talent residing within their own communities and developing partnerships with businesses, community colleges are fueling economic development and revitalization--locally, nationally, and internationally. "Cool Community Colleges" illustrates the ingenious ways in which schools are meeting the needs of students, communities, and businesses while also addressing the greater economic goals of the nation. This book draws on the presentations and discussions from the Regional Technology Strategies conference, which was held in November 2004 in Asheville, North Carolina. The book suggests actions for community colleges and presents a vision for the community college system of the 21st century. (Contains 1 table.) [This book was published by Community College Press[R], a division of the American Association of Community Colleges.]