Western Piedmont Community College Has Been Awarded A Dogwood Health Trust Workforce Grant For 3 Years
From December 2023 to November 2026 WPCC will receive additional funding in association with Dogwood Health Trust. The grant received is for the continuation of the Success Coach previously funded by Dogwood, and to provide support to hire the college’s first Apprenticeship Coordinator. The grant will continue to build upon WPCC’s success coaching model.
“WPCC is excited to receive support from Dogwood Health Trust through a Workforce Development Grant. The grant allows WPCC to meet students where they are and give them the tools and resources to be successful. We look forward to the lives in Burke County that will be transformed through this program” WPCC President, Dr. Joel Welch said.
The success coach will focus on supporting BIPOC and Pell-eligible students earning credentials, providing advising/success coach appointments, and identifying students who would qualify for the college’s new Dogwood Emergency Assistance Fund. The outcome is to increase students’ use of coaching services to improve their educational success and goal completion. “This grant will support our Success Coaches who help students navigate the college process from application to goal completion. It also provides resources when barriers occur that may otherwise detail their educational plans. We are appreciative to be able to continue this work and have additional resources to help students achieve their goals” Director of Advising, Annette Benedetti said.
Apprenticeships are industry-driven, high-quality career pathways where employers develop and prepare their workforce, individuals get paid work experience, classroom instructions, and a journey worker certificate. The apprenticeship coordinator will increase the number of apprenticeship/internship partners, the number of apprenticeship/internship placements and completions, and the number of participants successfully entering the workforce. “Our PACE apprenticeship program has grown dramatically over the last three years by adding new industry partners, occupations, and apprentices. PACE apprentices are working to develop industry-specific technical skills that will lead to high-quality careers. It is exciting to grow and enhance the PACE program for industries and citizens in Burke County” WPCC Dean of Workforce Development & Continuing Education, Rick Furse said.
WPCC is thankful for the support from Dogwood Health Trust to continue work to transform lives in Burke County by providing innovative, high-quality educational experiences and reducing barriers to credential attainment leading to quality, family-sustaining wages, and creating a hands-on job training program promoting regional employer partnerships.
About Dogwood Health Trust
Dogwood Health Trust is a private foundation based in Asheville, North Carolina with the sole purpose of dramatically improving the health and wellbeing of all people and communities of 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary in Western North Carolina. Dogwood Health Trust focuses on innovative and equitable ways to address the many factors that contribute to overall health and well-being. With a focus on housing, education, economic opportunity, and health and wellness, Dogwood Health Trust works to create a Western North Carolina where every generation can live, learn, earn, and thrive, with dignity and opportunity for all, no exceptions. To learn more, please visit www.dht.org.