The College was awarded a $250,000 grant through the North Carolina Community College System, funded by the North Carolina General Assembly. The funding is part of the state’s High-Cost Workforce Start-Up Grant, which helps community colleges launch programs in high-demand occupations where employers face workforce needs.

“Agriculture is more than an industry in Western North Carolina. It is part of our heritage, our economy, and the future of our communities,” said Blue Ridge’s Vice President for Economic and Workforce Development Dr. Monica Carpenter. “This new program will help prepare individuals to enter and sustain this essential field, strengthening the agricultural workforce and supporting an industry that we all rely on.”

Blue Ridge developed the program in response to growing employer demand for skilled technicians who can service and maintain agricultural equipment. Before developing the program, the College met with multiple industry partners to identify the technical skills most relevant to the region’s agricultural workforce.

The program will be offered as a short-term workforce training pathway designed to prepare students for immediate employment. Students will train for entry-level employment servicing, maintaining, and repairing agricultural equipment and related machinery. Through classroom instruction and hands-on laboratory experiences, students will develop skills in diesel engine fundamentals, equipment diagnostics, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, small-engine service and repair, welding, and more. Students will also have opportunities to earn nationally recognized industry credentials.

Agriculture is North Carolina’s top industry and an important part of the economy across Blue Ridge’s service area of Henderson and Transylvania counties, which together have approximately 44,000 acres of farmland and more than 660 farms. Across Western North Carolina, similar operations exist and their agricultural economies rely on skilled technicians to maintain and repair equipment.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Labor and Economic Analysis Division (LEAD) projects that employment in installation, maintenance, and repair occupations will grow 11.3%, from approximately 207,585 jobs in 2022 to 231,029 jobs in 2032. 

The new program will address workforce needs in Henderson and Transylvania counties while helping fill a regional training gap. No other community college in the state currently offers a workforce continuing education program that specializes in agricultural mechanics and equipment technology.

“Blue Ridge Community College is bringing education and industry together to prepare the next generation of skilled technicians, create meaningful career opportunities, and help ensure that agriculture continues to thrive in our region,” said Carpenter.

The program has been approved by the Workforce Development Leadership Council (WDLC) and is expected to receive approval from the State Board of Community Colleges in November.

Source: Blue Ridge Community College.