Community colleges are stepping into the manufacturing workforce gap by rapidly developing certificate and applied-degree programs tied to local industry, Rutgers research shows. Programs at institutions like Clark State College offer stackable credentials and transfer pathways to four-year degrees, aligning curriculum with employer needs and apprenticeship-style experiences. State and system leaders should consider scaling industry partnerships, credit-bearing apprenticeships, and employer co-investment to expand pipelines into advanced manufacturing careers and to reduce regional skills shortages.