NC Community College System Receives $1 Million From Golden LEAF Foundation to Fuel AdvanceNC Regional Workforce Initiative

Raleigh, NC – The North Carolina Community College System (System) today announced $1 million in funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation to support AdvanceNC, a collaborative initiative among community colleges, universities, supporting workforce entities, and employers to develop a robust talent pipeline to meet the workforce demands of the region’s rapidly expanding advanced manufacturing sector.

Led by Central Carolina Community College, AdvanceNC includes 12 North Carolina community colleges, three state colleges and universities, and seven workforce development boards, and is focused on the 21-county central North Carolina region. Through AdvanceNC, the collaborative offers workforce recruitment, specialized training, workforce retention, and awareness and engagement initiatives to ensure North Carolina is a global leader in advanced manufacturing.

Golden LEAF Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton announced the funding at today’s State Board of Community Colleges meeting. Funding will be directed toward five AdvanceNC community college partners that support the 12 most rural counties in the region: 

• Central Carolina Community College, 
• Piedmont Community College, 
• Randolph Community College, 
• Sandhills Community College, and
• Vance Granville Community College. 

In partnership with Education Design Lab (the Lab) and in collaboration with employers, AdvanceNC is developing 10 micro-pathways to standardize training across institutions and to connect learners with high-demand, well-paying jobs. These pathways will permit students to earn micro-credentials at local institutions and pursue advanced training within the region. The initial pathways include Industrial Machinery Mechanic, Maintenance Repair Worker, Industrial Electrician, HVAC Technician, Welding, and CNC Machinist. AdvanceNC anticipates an enrollment of 1,000 learners across the 12 community colleges, resulting in at least 800 learners to earn high-demand micro-credentials and third-party industry certifications. 

“Meeting the need for skilled workers is essential to the future of rural North Carolina,” Hamilton said. “Through AdvanceNC, these colleges will prepare the talent needed to fill in-demand jobs in one of the fastest-growing regions of our state. Golden LEAF is providing rural communities with the funding to help compete for these advanced manufacturing jobs.”

Beyond the immediate impact, the funding from Golden LEAF Foundation is set to be leveraged, alongside $1.4 million from the Lab and contributions from others. Together, the State Board of Community Colleges (State Board), NC Community College System Office (System Office), and the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation (Foundation) are co-leading a collaborative national fundraising effort to secure additional private sector support for AdvanceNC and to replicate the success of AdvanceNC to other industries and in other regions across the state. 

“Our System is focused on leading through change by aligning educational opportunities with employer demand,” said Dr. Jeff Cox, president of the North Carolina Community College System. “The Golden LEAF Foundation’s generous funding is a testament to the proven success of AdvanceNC and represents a strategic investment in the future of our state’s workforce and economy. It enables us to deliver high-quality, relevant training that puts North Carolinians to work in great-paying jobs.”

AdvanceNC plays a vital role in Central Carolina Community College’s mission to provide tailored workforce development to the regional and local community. The greatest measure of success is the direct impact on our students and local businesses. “This funding allows us to immediately enhance our infrastructure and expand much-needed specialized training in AdvanceNC’s rural counties to thrive economically,” said Dr. Lisa M. Chapman, President of Central Carolina Community College. “This funding will accelerate opportunity and change lives.”

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About the North Carolina Community College System

The North Carolina Community College System (NC Community Colleges or System) is the engine for workforce development in North Carolina and the only public entity dedicated to providing affordable college access to anyone in the state. The System is governed by the NC State Board of Community Colleges with administration from the NC Community College System Office, and support from the NC Community Colleges Foundation, and is powered by the 58 community colleges and their respective foundations. Together, the System serves 600,000 students and awards more than 60,000 degrees, diplomas, and certificates annually. For more information, visit https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/ 

About the Golden LEAF Foundation 

The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to receive a portion of North Carolina’s funding from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers. Golden LEAF has worked to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities through leadership in grantmaking, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship as an independent and perpetual foundation. For more than 25 years, the Golden LEAF Foundation has provided lasting impact to tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and rural areas of the state. In fiscal year 2025, Golden LEAF helped create 1,665 jobs, more than $116 million in new payrolls, and more than 4,722 workers trained or retrained for higher wages. For more information, visit https://goldenleaf.org/about/. 

About AdvanceNC

AdvanceNC is an innovative workforce development ecosystem that plays a pivotal role in filling the talent pipeline for major employers and drives remarkable economic growth in Central North Carolina. This collaborative strives to meet the evolving and increasing workforce demands of the region’s major employers by integrating the strengths of community colleges, universities, and workforce boards. This strategic alignment positions North Carolina as a global leader in advanced manufacturing. By focusing on equipping local talent with advanced skills and knowledge, AdvanceNC caters directly to the needs of employers, creating a skilled professional pipeline. For more information, visit https://advancenc.com/about/ 

About Central Carolina Community College

Central Carolina Community College (Central Carolina) is a public two-year college serving Chatham, Harnett, and Lee counties. Central Carolina is a member of the North Carolina Community College System and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). For more information, visit https://www.cccc.edu/about.  

About Education Design Lab

Education Design Lab (the Lab) is a national nonprofit and intermediary with a mission to

co-design an inclusive, skills-based learn+work system that facilitates upward economic mobility and closes opportunity gaps for the New Majority Learner-Earner. Our facilitated design process helps employer and education stakeholder groups co-design and launch scalable, skills-based, education-to-work pathways that align  talent supply and demand. Learn more at www.eddesignlab.org.

Media Contacts: 

• Nathan Hardin, Executive Director of Communications, NC Community College System Office, hardinn@nccommunitycolleges.edu or 919-807-7229

• Jenny Tinklepaugh, Communications Manager, Golden LEAF Foundation, jtinklepaugh@GoldenLEAF.org or (252) 801-1370

• Margaret Roberton, Vice President for Workforce Development/Chief of Staff, Central Carolina Community College, mroberton@cccc.edu or (919) 718-7447