State of the Union report: Late Steve Jobs proposed training workforce by encouraging partnerships between businesses and community colleges

 The late Steve Jobs reportedly urged President Obama to encourage partnerships between community colleges and businesses, an idea he stressed in tonight’s State of the Union speech. Jobs passed away in October after a long battle with cancer.

   On Sunday, The Free Lance-Star’s Cathy Jett interviewed Germanna Community College’s Vice President for Workforce Dr. Jeanne Wesley about the skills gap the president referred to tonight.

  The Huffington Post reports:

“In his speech,Obama cited the experience of Jackie Bray, a single mom in North Carolina who was laid off from her job as a mechanic. ‘Then Siemens opened a gas turbine factory in Charlotte and formed a partnership with Central Piedmont Community College,” Obama said. ‘The company helped the college design courses in laser and robotics training. It paid Jackie’s tuition, then hired her to help operate their plant. I want every American looking for work to have the same opportunity as Jackie did.’“