SANFORD - Thanks to funding from the Gene Haas Foundation, Central Carolina Community College can provide free tuition for individuals attending the college's Computer-Integrated Machining program.

Computer-Integrated Machining with an emphasis in Tool, Die, and Mold Making is a career with a bright future.

Since the skills are essential to every industry, the jobs are plentiful and the pay scale is excellent. Graduates of the CCCC program are recruited by local and regional industries.

For machinists, North Carolina median salaries are $21.13 per hour or $43,950 annually, with the top 10 percent of workers earning over $69,050 per year. Three to four percent growth is expected with 38,000 estimated job openings from 2019-2029. For tool and die makers, North Carolina median salaries are $22.80 per hour or $47,410 with the top 10 percent of workers earning over $67,220 per year. A total of 6,000 job openings are expected from 2019-2029.

The Gene Haas Foundation was established in 1999, by Haas Automation, Inc., Founder and CEO Gene Haas, to support the needs of the local community. Seeing a growing need for skilled manufacturing employees industry wide, the Foundation expanded its mission to include support for machining manufacturing training programs throughout North America and beyond.

Learn more about free tuition opportunities for the Computer-Integrated Machining program by contacting Instructor Glenn Shearin at gshearin@cccc.edu or 919-353-0304 (call or text).

Fall registration is under way. Visit www.cccc.edu/apply-register or call 919-718-7300. Or, for more information, email to enroll@cccc.edu.

Learn more about Central Carolina Community College at www.cccc.edu.