The economic downturn hit working America particularly hard, as agricultural, automotive, manufacturing, and retail jobs in many corners of the country all but evaporated. Consumers continue to cut back, and jobless rates in many states have eclipsed levels not seen in decades. Out of work and under pressure, many Americans are turning to the nation's community colleges to update their skills and train for new careers that promise to fulfill needs within their local communities. Colleges, for their part, are working to fulfill these needs by creating programs intended to quickly deliver marketable job skills and working with local employers to fashion curricula that dovetail with the needs of industry. So far, experts say, efforts are working. The author highlights innovative training programs in agriculture, automotive, and construction that rapidly deliver marketable job skills. These programs offer displaced workers skills for success in a reviving economy.