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AHOSKIE – Roanoke-Chowan Community College will soon begin expanding their “Weld to Work” program thanks to a grant from the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC).

US House Representative Don Davis visited the college on Monday, July 29 to present them with the check.

“This is a pathway to potentially hundreds if not thousands of jobs,” said Congressman Davis in his remarks about R-CCC’s Weld to Work program.

He emphasized that getting a solid education – in a field such as welding – can make a big difference in the lives of local people.

“We cannot give up on our young people in eastern North Carolina,” he continued.

Many of the counties in this part of the state, Davis added, are labeled “Tier One” which means they are economically distressed. He explained that programs like Weld to Work can help move a county out of that tier designation.

Weld to Work is a six-week training program designed to get participants into the workforce faster than the traditional welding course. Some former graduates of the program have already secured jobs at Newport News Shipyard, for example.

“We have sought to expand our welding program because welders are highly sought-after skilled laborers today,” said R-CCC President Dr. Murray Williams. “This Weld to Work program is part of our way of scaling up and helping our people get the skills they need, so they can earn a family-sustaining wage.”

Dr. Williams stated that the grant funds – which total $470,140 – will be used to help expand the program and also renovate the space used for classes. That includes adding more welding bays.

“Our whole purpose is to alleviate the effects of poverty in areas such as this,” explained Dr. Jennifer Clyburn Reed, SCRC Federal Co-Chair at Monday’s presentation. “This Weld to Work program has really intrigued me. I’m really looking forward to the large impact that this can have on this community.”

The grant is specifically a part of SCRC’s inaugural State Economic and Infrastructure Development (SEID) grant program. Its aim is to revitalize and grow economic development across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Dr. Clyburn Reed stated that they’d received 363 applications for the SEID grant and ultimately were able to fund 57 projects across the six states.

Olivia Collier, the Director of Regional Development Commissions at the NC Department of Commerce, helped narrow down the SEID applications in North Carolina before recommending them to SCRC for funding. She said their team was directed by Gov. Roy Cooper to focus on Tier One counties, infrastructure projects that alleviate health and safety challenges, and workforce development projects.

She said R-CCC’s application was an “easy yes.”

“We need a lot of welders out there,” said Congressman Davis, who also emphasized that the community college can help connect graduates with job opportunities. “We’re stronger together when we work together.”