Among the factors reshaping the American workforce are diversity, demands of work and family, global competition, the growing importance of strategic human resource planning, the need to reeducate employees for new technologies and more demanding jobs, and renewed interest in ethics and social responsibility. This collection of articles examines trends, innovations, problems, and solutions relating to the role of community colleges in contributing to the economic and work force development needs of local communities within a global economy. Included are the following 12 articles. (1) "Strategic Alignment of Community Colleges and State Economic Policy," by John G. Melville and Thomas J. Chmura; (2) "Investing in Human Capital: State Strategies for Economic Development," by Lawrence A. Nespoli; (3) "Meeting Small Business Needs through Small Business Development Centers," by Janice B. Carmichael; (4) "Developing Rural Business Incubators," by Mark L. Weinberg and DeLysa Burnier; (5) "Assuming a Leadership Role in Community Economic Development," by Robert J. Kopecek; (6) "Renovating Cooperative Education Programs," by Patricia A. Rheams and Fred Saint; (7) "Meeting Health Care Credentialing Needs," by Madeline K. Turkeltaub; (8) "Work Force Development through Distance Learning," by LaVerne W. Miller; (9) "Exploring the Community College Concept: Worldwide Variations," by Joseph Arthur Greenberg; (10) "Trading in a Global Economy: Obstacles and Opportunities," by Robert L. Gell and James A. Crupi; (11) "Evaluating Results of Economic and Work Force Development Programs," by Richard L. Alfred; and (12) "Sources of Information: Community Colleges and Economic Development," by Diane Hirshberg. (PAA)