Press Release
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2 Million to Boost Advanced Manufacturing Training Opportunities in North Carolina
Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
December 21, 2017
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2 million grant to Halifax Community College of Weldon, North Carolina, to help build the Advanced Manufacturing and Corporate Training Center. According to grantee estimates, the project is expected to create more than 120 jobs and generate nearly $19 million in private investment.
“A key focus of the Trump Administration is ensuring that American workers have the skills to succeed in the face of global competition,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “The new Halifax Community College Advanced Manufacturing and Corporate Training Center will help provide local businesses with an able workforce, stimulating future growth in the community.”
The training center will house curriculum and short-term training programs for industrial systems technology, welding technology, and automotive systems technology. It will also serve as a venue where area businesses and industries can upgrade the skills of their current employees as well as new hires, and schedule other training needs. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments. EDA funds Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.