CHAPEL HILL — Workforce training performed at community colleges grew at a rate of almost 100 percent in the past year, according to officials from the community college system.
From July 2005 to June 2006, community colleges trained 23,799 workers through its New and Expanding Industry Training program, Dr. Larry Keen, vice president for economic and workforce development, told members of the State Board of Community Colleges at a recent meeting. That is up from 12,398 during a similar period in 2005 and 10,117 in 2004.
Also increased was the number of companies involved in the program (197), of which 92 were new companies and 105 were expanding their operations. Last year, only 164 companies were involved in the program.
According to the community college system, the NEIT program works with employers that bring in at least 12 new jobs to the state. It also works with companies that expand by at least that same number.
Sixty percent of those trained and two-thirds of the companies were from rural areas of the state, Keen said.
“Community colleges work very hard to make sure good economic new touches every part of North Carolina,” Keen said.
Workforce development has been at the centerpiece of the community college system with the decline of the textile industry in many parts of the state in the past decade. In the 2006-07 budget, legislators appropriated more than $4 million in new funding for the community college system for workforce development. That includes both recurring and non-recurring funds.
“New and expanding industry training is the cornerstone of our support for North Carolina’s industrial recruitment and economic development,” said Community College System President Martin Lancaster.
While NEIT works only with employers that reach a certain new employee or expansion standard, the Customized Industry Training program works with companies that fall below those standards. The program trained more than 297 people through 12 projects last year, officials said.
More than $1 million was spent last year by the community college system on Customized Industry Training programs.