Blogs:

President Obama last week unveiled a plan that would stimulate economy through job growth. This $450 billion plan would provide at least $5billion to tribal and community colleges to help enhance infrastructure and renovate facilities.

Though not many details were released with respect to the combative speech given by the President to the joint session of Congress, it is evident from the White House fact sheet that the allotted money will help these institutions improve their infrastructure in order to effectively cater to the future student communities and generations.

In a blog post, Arne Duncan, our Education Secretary also mentions this fund which along with the facility funds of $35 billion for public schools will provide work for thousands of engineers, construction workers, electrical workers and boiler repairmen who will be engaged in modernizing and rebuilding the aging community colleges and public schools. This infrastructure program will be monitored by the Education Department according to a spokeswoman.

Doesn’t this proposal sound similar to the facilities plan initiated for the community colleges in the past that bit the dust?

During a previous horse trading, one of the significant casualties was the community colleges infrastructure funds. From the higher education funding provided through the 2010 Fiscal Responsibility Act and Student Aid, tens of billions of dollars were shed which in due course were used to enhance Pell Grants.

In July 2009, a similar $12 billion proposal was unveiled by President Obama. This initiative was to strengthen the community colleges by creating $2.5 billion fund. This plan came with a vision of being used to seed capital campaigns, paying interest on various debts including bonds or create state revolving loan funds. This money however did not materialize.

The present proposal by our President may work similarly. Community college officials were forced to react with gratitude as they did not have enough information. All they could do was to say thank you for potential help.

According to David S. Baime, American Association of Community Colleges’ government relations Vice President, there are a pressing need for campus modernization as these campuses are serving a huge number of students. He said that they certainly welcome this support.

Another aspect of our President’s job plan that could ensure that these colleges are direct beneficiaries include focus on tax cuts for the middle class and employers, funds for transportation and extension of benefits for those who are unemployed.

To help them avoid layoffs of public servants including teachers and firemen, this plan will provide $35 billion. This additional federal flow funding to the local and state coffers can significantly relieve state budget pressures though it cannot save jobs of college teachers.

For all this to happen however, President Obama and Congress must work hard to come to an agreement on the job plan as on the potential community colleges infrastructure funds. This however seems a long shot right now considering what has been happening in Washington these days. We can only hope for the best, as always.