The Corning expansion is the state’s largest single business investment ever. Cabarrus County is slated to receive $500 million in investments and 500 jobs at the Concord plant. New Hanover County will receive benefits totaling $100 million and more than 50 jobs at the Wilmington facility.  A third part of the Corning expansion is at their Noble Park facility near Melbourne, Australia.

New employees must be trained to do their new jobs. North Carolina’s community colleges have consistently provided customized training for manufacturers across the state.  This specialized service has resulted in a top national ranking for workforce training by Expansion Management magazine two years in a row for the North Carolina Community College System.

Corning Incorporated and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College developed a successful relationship that will continue with this expansion, according to Joseph Monastra, Corning’s Concord Plant Manager. "Corning Incorporated truly appreciates the excellent relationship it has with the North Carolina Community College System.  The NCCC System has been instrumental to the success of many training programs used in Corning’s new manufacturing facility located in Cabarrus County," said Monastra.

Rowan-Cabarrus President Dr. Richard Brownell, looks forward to the opportunity. "We are excited to hear about Corning’s expansion project in Cabarrus County," said Brownell. "We worked very closely with Corning officials to develop training programs for their initial plant operations.  Corning is an outstanding corporate citizen, and we hope to provide the same type of workforce training program for which we received two national awards in the past."

In New Hanover County, Cape Fear Community College has and will also provide similar services. Cape Fear President Dr. Eric McKeithan, shares the excitement.  "We look forward to developing a training program that meets the needs of Corning," he said.

Dr. Scott Ralls, Vice President for Economic Development and Workforce Training at the North Carolina Community College System Office praised the work at the local level, saying, "The dedicated employees at all 59 of our community college institutions work tirelessly to provide North Carolina with a world-class workforce."

The North Carolina Community College System, with more than 747,000 students, is one of the largest community college systems in the country.  The System is the state's primary and premier agency for delivery of job training, literacy and adult education.

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