We wanted to make sure that everyone knew that this was a business- and community-oriented initiative. We want to bring in more business and expand opportunities for students.

The jobs are out there, and the pay is good, but the students don't enter these fields if they're not informed about where the jobs are.

The members felt that the School-to-Career Council's name might imply that it was self-contained and operated by the schools. But the program includes business leaders, companies and the community. There are many opportunities to be involved in helping build a strong future workforce for Rowan County.

The business community around the state has always been supportive of Eliot, and they are excited about the prospect of him as the next governor.

I think some of that sense that there's a lot going wrong in the business community and Wall Street has subsided.

We've burdened the citizens so much, and I know we don't want to burden the business community more than we already have. The onus now has to fall on the city to either privatize services or look at other ways to generate money.