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The U.S. Department of Labor announced that North Central State College will receive a grant of $2.99 million as part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant (TAACCCT) Program.

NC State applied as a part of a multi-state consortium of community colleges led by Mount Wachusett Community College in Massachusetts and joined by Southwest Tennessee Community College and Bossier Parish Community College in Louisiana. The consortium was awarded a total of $15,875,432.

Working as a consortium of four leading community colleges across the United States, the Advanced Manufacturing, Mechatronics, and Quality Consortium will transform educational delivery methods and accelerate credential attainment in the advanced manufacturing fields of Mechatronics and Quality career pathways. The AMMQC will serve more than 1,720 TAA-eligible workers, veterans and other individuals in Ohio,  Louisiana, Massachusetts and Tennessee. Each college brings to the consortium a unique expertise in the mechatronics and quality fields that will be leveraged to create and implement stacked and latticed credentials that will be shared across all four colleges.

As part of the grant, NC State will purchase mechatronics training equipment and expand its capabilities to provide training to TAA-eligible workers in north central Ohio. The grant provides for the purchase of Motoman Robotics STEM carts, FANUC Robotics Mobile Learning Labs, Electrical Skills Test Devices, Standard Timing Devices for Industrial Readiness, and other assorted equipment. Funds are also allocated for instructors and career coaches for those who will receive training.

NC State President Dr. Dorey Diab expressed pleasure at the news. “We are pleased with the announcement and the confidence shown in our college by the Department of Labor. The important part of the announcement is it increases our ability to train unemployed and incumbent workers for high-paying jobs at area companies,” he said. “Through collaboration with our area partners, we are committed to serve the needs of our community and business and industry, to regain the vibrancy and vitality of our region,” he added.

Key partners in the NC State effort include the Regional Manufacturing Coalition,
Richland Economic Development Group, Pioneer Career and Technology Center, Madison Adult Education, Richland County Job and Family Services and the Ohio Job and Family Services Trade and REA Section.