Abstract
Objective: This study examined factors contributing to the success of a rural workforce development collaborative initiative. Background: In 2011 a three year grant was successfully secured from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Advance Technology Education (ATE) program to address concerns of small and medium size manufacturing companies about the lack of skilled, entry level Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) technician employees from the region. Method: A case study inquiry was used to explore the success of this collaborative partnership from the perspective of individuals playing essential roles and generate a deep understanding of the characteristic of this particular collaborative partnership. Results: Some themes emerging from the interviews and documents includes; having the right people at the table, commitment of team members, and effective group processes. Conclusion: Other rural areas with similar demographic and workforce development constraints can also benefit from the model used in in this collaborative initiative.