This study aimed to provide a quantitative analysis of industry's perception of the effectiveness of community colleges, specifically from industries in the advanced manufacturing sector, within the state of Michigan. This study investigated interactions, awareness, and perception of effectiveness by industry leaders with community college CTE initiatives through an anonymous survey provided to employers throughout the State of Michigan. Astin's (1984) theory of student involvement and his input-environment-output (I-E-O) model (Astin, 1993) were utilized as the theoretical and conceptual frameworks in the study. The perceptions definition chosen for this study closely aligned with the theory of student involvement and the conceptual framework. Perceptions was the dependent variable, and its context was chosen from a quantitative study conducted by Bers (2013) of both higher education leaders and business/industry executives highlighted the gap between the parties relative to their perceptions of the effectiveness of the local community colleges. A block form of stepwise multiple regression analysis applied using the I-E-O model determined which input and environmental independent variables predicted effectiveness of community colleges. The regression results identified 5 statistically significant predictors of employer's perceptions, four of which were positive and one of which was negative. Input characteristics accounted for 37% of the variance, comprised of one awareness and three involvement characteristics and the single negative predictor: aerospace industry. Involvement, specifically working with the local college to identify and hire qualified employees, and awareness of options for involvement, explained 49% and 38% of the variance, respectively. The study produced a few policy and practice implications. First, this study highlighted the importance of the establishment of policies to support localized employer needs. These policies, when developed and enacted locally, provide a framework for how colleges respond based upon input and insight from the employer base with a local community. The development of new policies that place the needs of employers within a geographic region of the community college has a powerful impact on economic development. Such policies have far-reaching benefits, not only for individuals who enroll and complete academic and workforce programs but also for the local employers who often have difficulty finding qualified employees. Secondly, Community colleges can incentivize potential students from said companies by offering tuition discounts, streamlined admission practices, and developing cohorts that allow employees to take classes and complete programs with colleagues from their companies. Additionally, colleges can improve the referral pathway from the state of Michigan agencies tasked with talent development and creation to have seamless programs that support employer growth and retention. Numerous opportunities exist to increase awareness and ultimately engagement between employers and community colleges including presence on program advisory boards, listing of open positions within college's Career Services offices, and increasing of apprenticeships/co-ops and sponsorship of college events. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]