OUR VIEW: Don’t shortchange state colleges - Panama City News-Herald

The struggle to bring high-quality jobs to the Bay County area is never ending. And for decades, Gulf Coast State College has been an integral part of the battle plan — as have state colleges across Florida. The stakes keep getting higher, particularly here where a state college works hand-in-hand with FSU-PC to offer students here evenmore. While there are still plenty of low-skill jobs available in this market, the gap between low hourly wages and the cost of living (rent, food and other basic necessities) continues to grow. For many local residents, that means a second or third job is necessary to survive. Reaching up for the certificates or degrees that can open the way to better earning power becomes even more difficult. http://www.newsherald.com/news/20171102/our-view-dont-shortchange-state-colleges