This paper reports on the development of the Community Computer Center (CCC) at Hibbing Community College (HCC) in Minnesota. HCC is located in the largest U.S. iron mining area in the United States. Closures of steel-producing plants are affecting the Hibbing area. Outmigration, particularly of younger workers and their families, has been substantial. This report argues that economic diversification in the area is imperative if Hibbing is to avoid continued "brain drain"--the loss of skilled workers. The U.S. Department of Education granted HCC an award in 1996 to upgrade its technology faculty and infrastructure. HCC took the project further and aligned with a coalition of community interest groups to develop a program that would match Hibbing's need for upgrading skills in the local workforce. Since the opening of the CCC in 1999, a total of 32 local firms and organizations have taken advantage of HCC's computer facilities to offer information technology (IT) skills training opportunities. Key elements of the CCC initiative include: (1) customized IT training for local workers; (2) continuing education that engages local residents from diverse backgrounds; (3) reaching across the digital divide; and (4) integrating closely with the region's long-term economic development strategy toward technology-based development. (NB)