Nebraska, like most states in the U.S., is facing a critical shortage of skilled and employable workers. Business and industry want to grow in Nebraska and realize the road to ensuring success is a workforce possessing updated knowledge and skills that support the use of new technologies, as well as a necessary work ethic to be a dependable and effective employee. FutureForce Nebraska was developed to support an idea in which several entities, working together, could assist the growth of economic development of the state. In May 2004, the idea crystallized at a seminar sponsored by the National Governors' Association, the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, and several state agencies, including higher education institutions. A realization that state agencies, two- and four-year educational institutions, and business and industry need to partner and support the identification of targeted growth industries and work together to solve the workforce needs became what is now known as FutureForce Nebraska. The departments of education, economic development, labor workforce development, and health and human services teamed up with two- and four-year postsecondary institutions, labor unions, and business and industry leaders in targeting growth "pathways" for the state. During the process, the reinforcement of the age-old idea surfaced in the manufacturing pathway that business and industry partners from FutureForce Nebraska were a key resource when revising curriculum in the public schools. Rather than adopting a usual practice of "educators telling educators" what should be included in the curriculum, educators had the opportunity to have the conversation with business and industry leaders about what the industry needs are and how the expectations might be met. A realization that the manufacturing curriculum should focus on contextual academics, technical skills based on national standards and employability skills, as well as safety education and practice, occurred.