Funding Provides Heavy Lifting to Advance Program
The Western Piedmont Foundation has received $150,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission and $479,949 from the Golden LEAF Foundation that will enable Western Piedmont Community College to purchase new heavy equipment, such as a bulldozer and skid steer, for its heavy equipment operator program.
The program prepares students to operate various types of vehicles used in the construction industry. The funding also will be used to purchase software upgrades for WPCC’s CAT heavy equipment simulator unit.
Golden LEAF provided the 50% matching funding required by ARC for the project.
“Golden LEAF is proud to partner with ARC in supporting Western Piedmont Community College’s strategy to expand its heavy equipment operator training program,” said Scott T. Hamilton, president and chief executive officer of Golden LEAF. “The new instructional technology and construction equipment will give the college the capacity to train more heavy equipment operators and provide these students with industry-recognized certifications. The enhanced program will help meet significant employer demand across the region and advance long-term economic growth.”
Terry Adams, director of vocational programs at WPCC, said the funding will help expand the heavy equipment operator program into broader areas of training. Students will have opportunities to learn essential skills such as trenching, grading and loading/unloading materials in a construction-like environment.
“These resources will allow students to gain valuable ‘seat time,’ sharpening their skills on modern machinery,” Adams said. “With this support, students can achieve competency more quickly, safely and effectively. These hands-on experiences will closely mirror real-world job-site conditions, preparing students for careers in the construction industry.
“Safety will remain the highest priority. All HEO classes will be conducted under strict safety protocols to ensure students learn in a secure and professional setting.”
The funding is expected to increase the capacity of students trained from 20 to 40 and prepare them for constructions jobs in demand in our area. There are an estimated 10,000 open construction jobs in the region, which is still recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Helene.
“Through ARC and Golden LEAF funding, WPCC’s heavy equipment operator program will be better equipped to provide high-quality, industry-relevant training that leads directly to employment opportunities,” Adams said.
Mackenzie Bostian Adams, executive director of the Western Piedmont Foundation, expressed appreciation for the support from ARC and Golden LEAF.
“We sincerely thank the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Golden LEAF Foundation for their generous funding, which will allow us to purchase essential equipment for our heavy equipment operator program,” Mackenzie Bostian Adams said. “This investment directly supports hands-on training opportunities for our students and strengthens our ability to prepare a skilled workforce for high-demand careers in our region.”
About ARC
The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development partnership entity of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia. For more information, visit arc.gov.
About Golden LEAF
The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to receive a portion of North Carolina’s funding from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers. Golden LEAF has worked to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities through leadership in grantmaking, collaboration, innovation and stewardship as an independent and perpetual foundation. For more information, visit GoldenLEAF.org.
Published: 10/15/2025