The Central Ohio Partnership for College and Career Readiness Expansion (CCRE) is a collaboration led by Columbus State Community College in partnership with Jobs for the Future (JFF), the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio (ESC), the SERVE Center at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and seven school districts that aims to increase college readiness and raise graduation rates by implementing early college designs. This brief, the first of a series, describes the history of cross-sector collaboration in central Ohio and the origins of the CCRE, and offers recommendations for other colleges. It begins with a review of the region's recent history of economic and talent development initiatives in which Columbus State has played a central role. The next section describes the strategic vision and early implementation of the CCRE, with a focus on lessons learned so far about the institutional changes and cultural shifts needed to build stronger partnerships and support the growing number of high school students accessing college courses. The brief concludes with a set of next steps and remaining questions to be answered as the CCRE continues. [Matching fund support was provided by JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s New Skills at Work initiative and the American Electric Power Foundation's Credits Count initiative.]