9 Rural Companies Granted Funding for Customized Training; 300 New Jobs Created Across North Carolina
Grants were awarded from state’s Rural Infrastructure Authority to local communities seeking support for workforce development projects.
As part of the North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA)’s approval of $1.85 million in grant funding to support job growth and infrastructure development projects in rural areas across the state, the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) has announced that it will create and deliver customized workforce training programs for nine companies through its NCEdge program.
As a result of these awards, NCEdge will provide training to support the creation of more than 300 new jobs in industries such as software development, manufacturing, and health services. The announcement is the latest commitment from the State of North Carolina’s Department of Commerce to building a more resilient and prosperous future for rural residents.
“The NCEdge program is a vital component of North Carolina’s economic development efforts, ensuring businesses of all scales have access to the skilled workforce they need to grow and evolve within their changing industries,” said John Loyack, Vice President of Economic Development at the System. “We look forward to kicking off these latest rural community employee training projects, with the support of our individual community colleges.”
The following rural North Carolina communities and companies are the latest RIA grant awardees slated to benefit from NCEdge’s customized training:
- 21st Century Software Technologies (Carteret County) – NCEdge will support the training of employees at the software company, which is expected to create 40 new jobs, through Carteret Community College.
- NextGen Cabinets (Duplin County) – The cabinet manufacturer in Wallace will receive training assistance for 42 employees through James Sprunt Community College to support its growing operations.
- Abstract Ice (Rutherford County) – NCEdge will help prepare employees at this craft ice manufacturer, creating 26 new jobs, through Isothermal Community College.
- CW Williams & Company (Transylvania County) – Life-saving equipment provider CW Williams will benefit from customized training for 10 new employees through Blue Ridge Community College.
- Provalus (Wilkes County) – NCEdge will assist in training for 133 employees as this IT outsourcing firm establishes a new Center of Excellence in North Wilkesboro, with training through Wilkes Community College.
- Unilin North America (Davidson County) – Flooring manufacturer Unilin will use NCEdge’s training services for 44 employees at its Thomasville location through Davidson County Community College.
- Cashion Fishing Rods (Lee County) – This Sanford-based manufacturer will receive customized training for 13 employees to support its continued success through Central Carolina Community College.
- Global Packaging Solutions (Stanly County) – NCEdge will support 10 employees in the packaging sector as they expand operations in Albemarle, through Stanly Community College.
- Wieland Copper Products (Stokes County) – The copper supplier in Pine Hall will receive training support for 50 employees, helping to bolster the local economy through Forsyth Tech Community College.
The NCEdge program, which provides customized corporate training solutions, serves as close partner to businesses that choose to expand or locate in North Carolina. By partnering with the state’s 58 individual community colleges at more than 150 sites, the program offers tailored training to meet the unique needs of each industry within a 30-minute radius of every North Carolina resident. The North Carolina Community College System has been leading the nation in customized training for more than 65 years.
NCEdge is one of several workforce development programs led under the Community College System’s economic development division and is utilized alongside the group’s Small Business Center Network, ApprenticeshipNC, and BioNetwork programs.
To learn more about these nine grants, and the other awardees, see the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s latest Rural Infrastructure Authority announcement here.
