The Working Connections program was initiated as a fresh, new approach to IT faculty development through a partnership among the American Association of Community Colleges, Microsoft, and the National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies. The original goal was to help faculty stay current with emerging technology trends and new developments. 

The Midwest Center for Information Technology (MCIT), a consortium of 10 community colleges throughout Nebraska, western Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota, began offering the conference locally in 2004. The AIM Institute provides project management for the MCIT and for the Working Connections Conference. Funding for the MCIT was obtained by the AIM Institute from the National Science Foundation.