This grant provides funding to Catawba Valley Community College Foundation for the “K-64 Connecting Business to Talent” project to expand access to programs that introduce local students to real-world jobs in Catawba County. Through K-64, local businesses are engaged across the education continuum to mentor students, participate in career fairs/days, help fund soft skills development curriculum, sponsor individual computer devices for every K-12 public school student, help develop courses, and provide work-based learning opportunities that align with workforce needs. K-64 leverages tax dollars, grants, corporate sponsorships, and private contributions to support program expansion and sustainability. Catawba County Commissioners have committed $1.3 million annually for the first five years to help launch and sustain K-64 during the initial development phase. K-64 anticipates increasing student participation annually by enrolling a minimum of 40 high school students in CVCC’s WBL-120 course, which focuses on soft skills development and includes 32 hours of business contact. Golden LEAF funds will be used for salaries and benefits for business liaisons to support this course.
