With Arizona's mining industry in decline and its construction and housing market racked by economic upheaval, workers in rural regions across the state are enrolling in community colleges at a record clip. At Central Arizona College (CAC), administrators have reported 16 percent to 20 percent growth each semester for three years running. Georgia White, CAC's dean of technical and professional education, says the college has secured millions in federal funds to meet the demands of a local workforce in transition. Looking to pair students with sustainable careers, CAC has invested heavily in renewable energy and green-building education, both areas of need for local employers. Arizona is not alone. Across the country, rural colleges are upgrading job-training programs to meet the needs of an increasingly green- and energy-conscious workforce. In this article, the author describes two rural colleges, Central Arizona College and North Dakota's Bismarck State College (BSC) National Energy Center of Excellence, which are creating relevant training programs that will position students for employment as the economy rebounds.