Students can take short-term, non-credit courses in machining and construction to get into the workplace faster. Photo courtesy of South Piedmont Community College
MONROE – Wells Fargo awarded South Piedmont Community College a $5,000 grant to help low-to-moderate income students in Union County enroll in noncredit, short-term training programs that lead to sustainable employment and address workforce needs.
“Thanks to this grant, Union County residents who could not previously afford short-term training now have the opportunity to prepare for jobs that can close the economic gap,” said Maria Lander, dean of professional occupations and public services at SPCC.
In August 2018, South Piedmont discovered a significant gap between the number of job openings and the number of graduates in a few noncredit, short-term programs in its service area. The college developed the Career in a Year program to satisfy this need. It focuses on careers in demand where certifications can be earned in less than a year.
Funding from Wells Fargo will allow Union County residents facing financial need to enroll in programs like air conditioning and refrigeration, welding, plumbing, electrical, machining, construction and commercial driving.