The need for skilled workers to continually innovate and drive economic prosperity lends credence to the idea of planning for the future--and career and technical education (CTE) programs can be at the center of both today's economic recovery and the long-term future of the country's workforce. One way that these two needs can intersect is through growing partnerships between education and businesses. Increased coordination with business and industry is a much stronger theme within the 2006 Perkins Act. In fact two of the new purposes of the law allude to this theme--"supporting partnerships among secondary schools, postsecondary institutions, baccalaureate degree granting institutions, area career and technical education schools, local workforce investment boards, business and industry, and intermediaries" and "providing individuals with opportunities throughout their lifetimes to develop, in conjunction with other education and training programs, the knowledge and skills needed to keep the United States competitive." References to entrepreneurship, small businesses, high-demand occupations and the involvement of workforce investment boards have also been added to the law. These changes emphasize the role that workforce needs and local economies should play in CTE programs. Many states, school districts and postsecondary institutions have begun to emphasize this role as they implement the new Perkins Act and invest increasingly scarce resources. The author believes that it is only through dynamic, two-way partnerships will CTE and business and industry be able to successfully compete in the 21st century global economy.