In this article, the author explores how some community colleges have survived, if not thrive, amid the pain of a deep recession. Rather than cut educational options, administrators at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona have opted to freeze discretionary spending, sweep unspent budget allocations back into its general budget, improve its debt collections, and institute a more competitive contract bidding process. Pima has also leveled a recent hiring freeze and developed a more flexible human resources plan that involves cross-training and transferring qualified personnel rather than hiring new instructors and administrators, thus enabling the college to trim 10 percent of its administrative positions. Other colleges, on the other hand, are reaching beyond their local communities, as well as find new and creative ways to solicit donations.