Designed for use by postsecondary educators involved in teaching displaced workers, this guidebook provides an in-depth look at successful upgrading and retraining programs in colleges in diverse situations across the country. The rationale for a human resource emphasis in economic development and the role of the two-year college in economic development are discussed. Provided next are case studies of upgrading and retraining programs at the following institutions: Tri-County Technical College in South Carolina, Macomb Community College in Michigan, State Technical Institute at Memphis in Tennessee, Triton College in Illinois, and South Oklahoma City Junior College in Oklahoma. Various barriers and solutions to developing successful retraining programs are examined, including state and local linkages for economic development, course approval systems, college forecasting and planning, marketing of customized training, customized training management, flexibility of resources, internal organization and cooperation, faculty and staffing, and other economic development outreach services. The last chapter presents these critical elements along with accompanying recommendations and provides conclusions reached concerning the upgrading and retraining of adult workers by colleges for industry. (MN)