Nash and Wilson Community Colleges Receive Golden LEAF Grant
Nash and Wilson Community Colleges are recipients of an $845,000 grant through the Golden LEAF Essential Skills in Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Initiative. The grant supports Project NC301, a partnership aimed at meeting employment demands in the local pharmaceutical, logistics manufacturing and metal fabrication industries. Because of the high-tech nature of today’s advanced manufacturing workplace, employers need workers with technical, specialized knowledge that requires college-level training or a technical degree. Project NC301 participants pursue targeted skill enhancement, work experiences, third-party industry certifications, and interview opportunities with industry partners to gain the training and skills for employment. Degrees, certifications, and diplomas are available in computer-integrated machining, electronics engineering technology, tire manufacturing, welding, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and other engineering and manufacturing technology disciplines.
“The Golden LEAF Board of Directors created this special initiative with the awareness that North Carolina leads the Southeast in manufacturing jobs, with more than 18 percent of the rural workforce earning $8.5 billion in manufacturing wages,” said Dan Gerlach, Golden LEAF President. “In Nash and Wilson counties, seven local companies have indicated a need for over 680 jobs in the next three years. This project will help provide skills training for high wage jobs, connect the local industries with the skilled workers they need, and upgrade the capacity of our training institutions.”
Through the grant, Project NC301 will implement several strategies to ensure participants of any age or experience level can achieve short-term career goals and progress towards long-term educational goals simultaneously. The colleges will partner with local schools and employers to create a seamless progression for students from high school through a two-year degree and into a four-year degree or the workforce. Displaced workers will prepare to enter locally available essential skills-based positions and will access further education necessary for career advancement or higher degrees. The grant will support the purchase of advanced manufacturing equipment, assist students with certification and internship expenses, and provide support for the supplies and training necessary to prepare students for third-party certification exams.
“This two county section of 301 is a complex mix of manufacturing sectors. Assisting these important industrial clients with job training is a community college obligation. Golden LEAF recognized the value of making an investment in programs and people,” NCC President Dr. Bill Carver said.
The grant will allow the colleges to provide more enhanced and accelerated occupational, career and academic training opportunities in the advanced manufacturing disciplines. Additional career training and industry partnerships will result in more internship and co-op opportunities and increase the employability of degree, diploma and certificate graduates. Project NC301 will lead to an increase in students enrolled in and successfully completing advanced manufacturing certificate, diploma and degree programs, more industry and third-party credentials earned, and more students interviewed and hired for well-paying jobs in the advanced manufacturing industry.
“Wilson Community College is fortunate to work with the farsighted people of the Golden LEAF Foundation and visionaries such as President Carver of Nash Community College, who can see the need and opportunity to significantly enhance the training infrastructure in the 301 corridor supporting our industrial partners and the very good jobs that are in manufacturing,” Wilson Community College President Dr. Rusty Stephens said.
This project received support from the Golden LEAF Foundation. For more information about the project or Nash Community College’s Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies programs, call 252-451-8235.
Nash and Wilson Community Colleges are recipients of an $845,000 grant through the Golden LEAF Essential Skills in Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Initiative supporting Project NC301, a partnership aimed at meeting employment demands in the local pharmaceutical, logistics manufacturing and metal fabrication industries. Nash Community College President Dr. Bill Carver (right) and Wilson Community College President Dr. Rusty Stephens discuss local industry needs as they visit Nash Community College’s Advanced Manufacturing Lab.
