Agriculture is a major part of North Carolina’s economy, but the skills needed to succeed in the industry are changing. Preparing the next generation of agricultural workers requires introducing students to career opportunities early, providing hands-on education and training, and creating clear connections from the classroom to the workforce.
Stanly Community College is expanding its plumbing and electrical programs to address the region’s labor shortage in high-demand jobs.
Columbus County leaders have worked to create new opportunities that prepare students for in-demand careers and connect employers with the skilled workers they need. At Southeastern Community College, an apprenticeship program built in partnership with local school systems and employers is helping create those connections.
Apprenticeships are helping North Carolina employers build the skilled workforce they need while giving students an opportunity to earn a paycheck, gain hands-on experience, and prepare for high-demand careers.
Two middle schools in Wilson County are helping students think about their futures long before they reach high school through the College and Career Exploration Labs at Darden and Speight Middle Schools.
The labs were designed to give middle school students hands-on experiences that connect classroom learning to real-world careers. Students explore a variety of high-demand fields through interactive modules focused on Biomedical Engineering, Manufacturing Technologies, Electricity and Electronics, Structural Engineering, Health Science Careers, Computer Drafting and Design, Environment and Ecology, and other career pathways tied to workforce preparedness.
Across North Carolina, healthcare providers are facing critical staffing shortages. In 2025 the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded eight community colleges more than $4.1 million total to expand healthcare training capacity and prepare students for in-demand careers to help address these challenges. Funds were used to support expanding training capacity, modernizing facilities, strengthening career pathways, and connecting students directly to high-demand careers.
North Carolina’s community colleges are using creative strategies to recruit career and technical instructional roles. Golden LEAF Programs staff see firsthand these real challenges in the workforce preparedness projects they manage. Whether the Golden LEAF funds awarded support a new advanced manufacturing lab, a nursing expansion, or a skilled trades facility, one reality consistently surfaces: buildings and equipment are only part of the equation. Qualified instructors are often the critical ingredient.
In Rutherford and Polk counties, Isothermal Community College’s new covered riding arena is expanding the hands-on training opportunities that connect students to high-demand careers in agribusiness, equine services, and mental health services.
What happens when opportunity meets rural community pride? In this episode of Golden LEAF Critical Conversations, host Scott T. Hamilton talks with a current Golden LEAF Scholar, a Scholar Alumna, and an internship site host to show exactly how the Golden LEAF Scholarship and Golden LEAF Rural Internship Initiative change lives and shapes communities across North Carolina.
Madison County High School’s Construction Trades Program is delivering measurable results for students and employers by combining hands-on learning with direct workforce connections in high-demand skilled trades.
