This award provides funding to Southeastern Community College (SCC) to expand its welding program that primarily serves high school students in Columbus County. SCC currently provides welding courses at three local high schools via a mobile welding lab. The program has seen strong enrollment and has grown beyond the its current capacity. A larger mobile unit is needed to address increased demand in the three high schools and to provide courses at the fourth high school in the county. The current mobile unit will remain in service, helping reduce demands on the new lab. SCC projects that the program would result in 40 additional students earning an academic credential and 35 additional students earning a third-party credential annually as a result of this investment. Golden LEAF funds will be used to purchase and upfit a trailer and for project related equipment, supplies, and instructor training.