| Caption: Hudson County Community College and Hudson County Chamber of Commerce have been selected to participate in the Sustainable College-Employer Partnerships initiative. The effort is led by Achieving the Dream (ATD) in partnership with the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Foundation and is supported by JPMorganChase. JERSEY CITY, NJ, November 12, 2026 — Hudson County Community College (HCCC) and the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce have been selected to participate in the Sustainable College-Employer Partnerships initiative to strengthen collaboration between community colleges and local chambers of commerce, better align education with workforce demand, expand work-based learning opportunities, and build stronger pathways to employment. This effort is led by Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national nonprofit dedicated to helping community colleges transform to promote student success and community vibrancy, in partnership with the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Foundation, and is supported by JPMorganChase. As one of eight community college–chamber teams selected nationwide, HCCC and the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce will work together with participating employers over the next two and a half years to identify regional workforce needs, shape education and training strategies, and expand opportunities for students to gain work-based experience and connect with careers. Across the cohort, the work spans six industries: aviation, defense, advanced manufacturing, business, healthcare, and cybersecurity/IT. Many of these sectors are priorities for JPMorganChase’s Security and Resiliency Initiative(SRI), a $1.5 trillion, 10-year plan to strengthen industries critical to national security and economic resilience. In addition to mobilizing capital, the initiative aims to help address the workforce shortages constraining production and innovation in key sectors. “No single organization can solve workforce challenges alone,” said Lenore Rodicio, Ph.D., president and CEO of Achieving the Dream. “When community colleges, chambers of commerce, and employers work together, they can build stronger pathways from education to employment that benefit learners, businesses, and communities alike. Through our partnership with the ACCE Foundation, we look forward to supporting these relationships as they develop sustainable models that can serve as examples for colleges across the country.” “No single organization can solve workforce challenges alone,” said Lenore Rodicio, Ph.D., president and CEO of Achieving the Dream. “When community colleges, chambers of commerce, and employers work together, they can build stronger pathways from education to employment that benefit learners, businesses, and communities alike. Through our partnership with the ACCE Foundation, we look forward to supporting these relationships as they develop sustainable models that can serve as examples for colleges across the country.” Throughout the initiative, HCCC and the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce will receive individualized coaching and technical assistance from ATD and the ACCE Foundation, engage in virtual and in-person peer learning opportunities, and implement strategies to strengthen long-term employer partnerships. This initiative will deepen the strategic partnership of Hudson County Community College and Hudson County Chamber of Commerce in strengthening the region’s workforce ecosystem and creating more direct pathways from education to employment. Together, they will engage employers in a comprehensive assessment of workforce needs. They will also work with 25 employers to co-design innovative talent development strategies centered on work-based learning, career exploration, and talent pipeline development. The HCCC-Hudson County Chamber of Commerce partnership will create meaningful, work-based learning opportunities for 50 students, and connect these students with Chamber members and other leading regional employers. By leveraging technology and developing a shared-talent connection platform, the initiative will streamline transitions from education to employment while helping employers access a skilled and diverse talent pool. To ensure long-term impact and sustainability, HCCC and the Chamber will establish a Workforce and Economic Vibrancy Committee that brings together education, industry, and community leaders to guide future workforce solutions and support regional economic growth. About Hudson County Community College Hudson County Community College serves more than 20,000 credit and non-credit students annually. The College offers more than 90 degree and certificate programs, including award-winning English as a Second Language; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); Culinary Arts/Hospitality Management; Nursing and Health Professions; and Humanities and Social Sciences. The HCCC Culinary Arts/Hospitality Management program was ranked number six in the U.S. by Best Choice Schools. The College’s School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development offers cutting-edge, industry-recognized, stackable credentials in alignment with high-priority workforce needs. HCCC has partnerships with major four-year colleges and universities in the greater New Jersey-New York area and beyond, accommodating seamless transfer of credits for further undergraduate and graduate education. The College has received dozens of national awards throughout the years. HCCC was a finalist in seven categories of the 2026 American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) “Awards of Excellence” and earned 2026 Advancing Institutional Equity and Belonging, Faculty Innovation, and Faculty of the Year Awards, in addition to Dale P. Parnell Faculty Recognition. HCCC also earned AACC 2024 “Awards of Excellence” including CEO of the Year, Faculty of the Year, and Student Success Awards. In 2023, HCCC received the Outstanding Member-Institution Award from the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). For the sixth consecutive year, HCCC was selected as one of only a few community colleges in the United States to be named a “2026 Most Promising Place to Work in Community Colleges” by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD). HCCC was one of 22 community colleges in the nation, and the only college in New Jersey, to be recognized by ModernThink LLC and the “Chronicle of Higher Education” as a 2025, 2024, 2023 and 2022 “Great College to Work For®” and named to the 2024 and 2023 “Great Colleges Honor Roll of Distinction.” HCCC is one of two colleges in the United States to be named a Top Ten Finalist in all three program categories for the nationally recognized 2023 Bellwether Awards, and received the 2023 Bellwether Award for the College’s cutting-edge “Hudson Scholars” program, which also won the 2024 Bellwether Legacy Award. HCCC further earned the 2026 Bellwether “Best in Showcase Award.” The College’s exemplary work in advancing student success has been recognized with “Leader College of Distinction” designation by Achieving the Dream, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community colleges as catalysts for equity and mobility in their communities. HCCC also earned the Campus Prevention Network Seal of Prevention in 2025, 2024 and 2023 for demonstrating leadership in digital prevention programming focused on student safety, well-being, and inclusion.The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) named the College the inaugural recipient of the 2025 ACCT national “Impact and Success Award.” About the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce The Hudson County Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1888, is Hudson County, New Jersey’s premier, member-focused Chamber that promotes economic vitality, quality of life, opportunity, and growth for every sector and segment of our diverse business and nonprofit community by connecting and empowering its members and by advocating for its membership. About Achieving the Dream Achieving the Dream (ATD) is a partner and champion of more than 300 community colleges across the country. Drawing on expert coaches, groundbreaking programs, and national peer network, the organization provides institutions with integrated, tailored support for every aspect of their work — from foundational capacities such as leadership, data, and equity to intentional strategies for supporting students holistically, building K–12 partnerships, and more. ATD calls this Whole College Transformation. Its vision is for every college to be a catalyst for economically vibrant communities. ATD knows that with the right partner and the right approach, colleges can drive access, completion rates, and employment outcomes — so that all students can access life-changing learning that propels them into community-changing careers. Follow ATD on X (Twitter), Facebook, and LinkedIn. To learn more, visit the Achieving the Dream (ATD) website: www.achievingthedream.org. About the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Foundation The ACCE Foundation supports the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) by providing chamber leaders with tools, research, and knowledge needed to shape the future of their communities. It also describes the foundation as providing research, thought leadership, and peer learning opportunities to support chamber leaders addressing community challenges. |
