WNC Community Colleges Receive $300,000 ARC Grant for Green Workforce Training

Gov. Bev Perdue, Congressman Heath Shuler, and Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Federal Co-Chair Earl F. Gohl announced a $300,000 grant today to
the Southwestern North Carolina Planning & Economic Development
Commission to assist three Appalachian community colleges in developing a
green workforce training program.

The announcement of the grant was made during a press conference convened by the ARC at Western Carolina University. It will be matched by another $494,000 in local
funding for a total of $794,000 to develop the training program. Some
400 students are anticipated to enroll in the program at Haywood,
Southwestern, and Tri-County community colleges.

The training curriculum will include civil engineering, sustainable technology, green weatherization and retrofitting, biofuel production, sustainable
horticulture and hybrid automotive technology.

“The green economy is critical for jobs in the 21st century,” said Perdue. “We understand that we have to create the green workforce to provide
services to our businesses and our citizens. There is nothing more
important in my mind to the long-term quality of life than for all of us
to be committed to a clean environment.”

Gohl praised the collaborative nature of the project, noting that “it is not often that we have three community colleges working with a local development
district. This unique and important partnership will bring about a
workforce that is much more competitive and able to respond to the jobs
of the future.”

“The ARC money will be able to develop the workforce that’s needed to not only create jobs here but bring jobs that are now being sent overseas to Western North Carolina,” said Shuler.
“As a result, we’ll have the workforce to be able to recruit companies
to this region.”

Executive Director Bill Gibson received the $300,000 check on behalf of the Southwestern North Carolina Planning & Economic Development Commission. “This project is a chance for the
Appalachian Regional Commission to help provide incentives for the
growth of the green energy, renewable energy, and the clean energy
economy of Western North Carolina with regard to equipment and training
resources for our three community colleges,” said Gibson.

“This project will make our workforce competitive in the important areas of clean technology and energy efficiency,” said. Dr. Scott Ralls,
president of the North Carolina Community College System. “Newly
trained workers will benefit not just by the skills that they develop
but also by the economic opportunities that will be brought to regions
such as this.”

Also in attendance at the press conference were: Dr. Rose Johnson- president of Haywood Community College; Dr. Donna Tipton-Rogers – president of Tri-County Community College; and Dr.
Janet Burnette– vice-president of Southwestern Community College.

Press release: http://www.governor.state.nc.us/NewsItems/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?n...