It’s great to be here on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, making another important stop on our tour of Maryland’s community colleges.
And I have to say, this is a beautiful campus and a beautiful day.
When Governor O’Malley asked me to join his team for a better Maryland, and for One Maryland, he tasked me to lead our efforts in higher education and economic development among other issues.
And there is no better crossroads of those two issues than at Maryland’s community colleges—where America goes to college.
Community colleges are the economic incubators of our people-driven economy.
And, in an effort to enhance the contribution you make—the educators, administrators and students—we’re going to continue any efforts that help make learning a lifelong endeavor.
All so we can keep our workforce trained in the most current skills of their trade.
We know we can do more and that we need to make a greater commitment to adult education in order to help established professionals meet their full earning potential.
And we know we can do more to offer easier and more available access to online course work and distance learning because there is no reason for any distance to exist between a college degree, the New Economy and rural Maryland.
And to renew this commitment to community colleges, to reinvest in the people who are the currency of our Maryland economy, Governor O’Malley and I were proud to have been able to increase funding for community colleges by almost 17 percent—nearly $30 million and the largest increase any of us, even President Miller can remember.
The educators and students at Chesapeake College realize the value of a quality education and, President Bounds, you have all continued to do your part to help countless families on the Eastern Shore realize the dreams they’ve set for themselves and their children.
And with your help, we’re going to keep working together to enhance and expand the skills and reach of the Eastern Shore workforce;
To grow our economy in a way that preserves the fragile beauty of our natural landscape and Chesapeake Bay;
And to advance the common needs of our communities.
And we’re celebrating that shared commitment today:
I’m proud to announce that Maryland’s taxpayers have made a $5,000 investment in the Chesapeake College regional Volunteer Center.
This facility, which is a prime example of local, state and Federal governments working together, will act as a clearinghouse for volunteers and nonprofits in the five surrounding counties.
Programs like this, facilities like the VISTA Center and institutions like Chesapeake College, are a grand reflection of the communities they serve and incredible reminders that we must work together, as One Maryland, to preserve, promote and improve our quality of life for future generations to enjoy.