This award provides funding to Pitt Community College Foundation to expand and upgrade the Welding Technology program at Pitt Community College (PCC). To meet the increasing demand for skilled welders and address persistent space and equipment limitations, the college is constructing a 30,000-square-foot, $17.7 million state-of-the-art facility. The building, which is scheduled to open in 2026, will include two fabrication shops, space for robotic welding, and 96 welding booths, more than doubling the current number of booths. With the expansion, PCC expects to increase the number of students completing an academic credential by 33 students annually. PCC also expects that 60-70 students will earn the AWS Certified Welder Certification as the new facility will allow PCC to become an AWS Accredited Testing Facility. Golden LEAF funds will be used for welding equipment.
