WPCC advances workforce development through WNC Good Jobs Initiative

Western Piedmont Community College is strengthening its commitment to workforce development and regional economic growth through participation in the Western North Carolina Good Jobs Initiative.

This collaborative effort connects residents with family-sustaining careers while helping employers meet critical workforce needs, with a focus on high-demand fields such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and skilled trades.

The WNC Good Jobs Initiative was created in March to address workforce challenges across the western part of the state as communities recover from Hurricane Helene. It brings together community colleges, employers, philanthropic organizations, the N.C. Community College System, and workforce partners to build stronger pathways to employment and long-term economic prosperity, with a central goal of helping residents secure jobs that offer family-sustaining wages, benefits, and opportunities for advancement.

WPCC is among the participating colleges, and it is expanding opportunities in advanced manufacturing through programs in mechatronics, machining, and welding. WPCC is working with local employers to align training with workforce needs, expand work-based learning, and strengthen pathways from the classroom to employment.

As part of this endeavor, WPCC has received significant philanthropic support, including a $250,000 gift from The Cannon Foundation. When combined with previous investments from the Belk Endowment and the Leon Levine Foundation, total funding dedicated to WPCC’s Good Jobs Initiative efforts currently sits at nearly $400,000.

“We are deeply grateful to The Cannon Foundation for its extraordinary investment in our students, our workforce, and our region,” WPCC President Dr. Joel Welch said. “This funding allows us to strengthen programs that lead directly to high-demand careers, remove barriers for students, and build strong partnerships with employers seeking skilled talent. Support from The Cannon Foundation, Belk Endowment, and Leon Levine Foundation will have a lasting impact on the economic vitality of Burke County and Western North Carolina.”

Funding will support key initiatives such as purchasing advanced manufacturing equipment, expanding workforce training pathways, increasing employer engagement, providing transportation assistance, offering career exploration activities, and delivering industry-focused professional development for faculty and staff.

These investments aim to increase enrollment in workforce programs, expand work-based learning opportunities, and connect more students to quality employment.

WPCC’s participation in the WNC Good Jobs Initiative aligns with the college’s vision of creating clear, accessible pathways to careers that provide livable wages, stability, and opportunities for advancement. Through the initiative, WPCC aims to place dozens of students into high-quality manufacturing careers while helping regional employers address ongoing workforce shortages.

“The WNC Good Jobs Initiative represents a unique opportunity to strengthen the connection between education and employment,” Welch said. “By working closely with employers and regional partners, we are building a workforce pipeline that benefits students, businesses, and communities across Western North Carolina.”

— JM