Recent research has helped shift the national understanding of the opportunities presented by Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields, drawing attention to the large number of STEM jobs that require less than a Bachelor's degree. The data have also highlighted the critical importance of community colleges as a primary provider of college access for large numbers of low-income students, first generation students, and students of color. The result is a growing national recognition that, with new approaches and support for reform, community colleges can be a launching pad for many more individuals to high-paying, quality careers in STEM fields, and an effective avenue for improving equity. To address this opportunity, Achieving the Dream, Inc. and Jobs for the Future launched the STEM Regional Collaboratives initiative in Fall 2013 with support from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. Through a competitive request for proposal process, ATD and JFF selected three applicants: Cuyahoga Community College in partnership with the Ohio Association of Community Colleges; Miami Dade College in partnership with the Florida College System; and Norwalk Community College in partnership with the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education. This document provides a reflection of the collaboratives' progress throughout the first year of the grant.