From N.C. Community College System
RALEIGH - The N.C. Community College System (NCCCS) today announces its partnership with Wolfspeed to provide customized training through its network of community colleges to help fill more than 1,800 jobs that the semiconductor and chip manufacturing company will bring to Chatham County over the next five years.
Gov. Cooper and and officials with Wolfspeed announced Friday, Sept. 9, the company's plans to bring its Durham-based facility to Siler City's Chatham Advanced Manufacturing site. The move, which is the largest economic development win in state history, is expected to bring a $5 billion investment to the Tar Heel State.
"Wolfspeed's continued investment in North Carolina validates the company's confidence in North Carolina's ability to deliver advanced manufacturing employees to meet the needs of this important industry," NCCCS Interim President Dr. Carver said. "The North Carolina Community College System stands ready to assist all of the training partners to create the next world-class hub for silicon chip manufacturing."
The NCCCS Customized Training section provides education, training and support services for new, expanding and existing business and industry in North Carolina through its network of 58 community colleges. Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) will take the lead in providing customized training to help meet the regional workforce needs that the Wolfspeed plant will bring to Chatham and surrounding counties. Customized Training will support up to $3.6 million in providing Wolfspeed a skilled workforce.
"CCCC recognizes that we need to respond to regional workforce needs and understands the value of leveraging our strong partnerships with our sister community colleges and our university peers," said CCCC President Dr. Lisa Chapman. "Through the state's Customized Training Program, CCCC will work with Wolfspeed to define a training plan that supports their pre-hire and post-hire workforce needs and gains advantages from these cross-educational partnerships which includes coordination with our K-12 systems. We have great local talent and we want our residents who are interested in this field to successfully access the great careers in our growing advanced manufacturing industries."
Wolfspeed, formerly known as Cree, builds silicon carbide chips for industrial and commercial use. Its chips are used in electric vehicles, 4G and 5G mobile development and other emerging industries.
"This is an important and momentous day for the North Carolina Community College System," said Dr. Bruce Mack, VP of Economic Development for NCCCS. "We are thankful for the partnerships in North Carolina. This is Economic Development at its best."