Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest, California, responded to the particular needs of its community rather than to the traditional interpretation of economic development. Facing a special situation where it served an area dominated by one major employer, the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, it became actively engaged in fostering economic development that put the emphasis on diversification. The college took approaches that included making a financial investment in the community and attracting new enterprises and developing training courses to meet their needs.