This Golden LEAF grant will assist Gaston College with a $6.5 million project to renovate an existing facility and construct a new building (Center for Advanced Manufacturing) to expand advanced manufacturing (welding, machining, HVAC, electrical engineering, and electronics) programs that are currently enrollment restricted due to space limitations. Gaston County has committed $3.3 million from existing bonds toward the project and has applied to the U.S. Economic Development Agency for an additional $2 million. Golden LEAF funds will be used to renovate the Pharr Building and result in a 50% increase in enrollment in the machining program and a 100% increase in welding. A recent workforce study references employment growth of 285 machining and 100 welding jobs over a 3 year period in the college’s service area with one company indicating an intent to fill 90 positions over 4 years. All grant funds are to support renovation of the Pharr Building, which is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2014.
