ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are coming to North Carolina to explore a workforce readiness program at the community college level on Friday.

What You Need To Know

  • President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are set to visit Nash Community College Friday

  • They'll be touring Advanced Manufacturing Institute on the Rocky Mount campus

  • Training programs at the Opportunities Industrialization Center meet a growing need

Based on information from White House staff, President Biden will tout his Investing in America agenda during his visit to the Nash Community College.

The president of NCC, Dr. Lew Hunnicutt, said the first family is expected to meet with students pursuing careers in clean energy, advanced manufacturing and more. Hunnicutt said the excitement is at a fever pitch on the Rocky Mount campus.

“This is why I do this every day. We give folks a ray of hope. These students don’t care about being a lawyer or a doctor. They want to be part of the workforce who fills needs in the local economy,” Hunnicutt said.

Lifelong learning is a theme at training centers across North Carolina as well.

On the other side of the city in Edgecombe County, the Opportunities Industrialization Center is molding skilled labor. Charles Washington oversees the various courses offered at OIC as the director of career services.

“Demand has been pretty wide open. There’s been a large demand for all the pathways we offer. We do an excellent job with reaching out to those area employers to find an opportunity for our students to gain employment,” Washington said. 

The future of North Carolina’s trained workers happens in Dennis Reynold’s carpentry class. 

“(There are the) benefits of using your hands. It’s very important for anybody learning any kind of trade (that they) should know how to use basic tools,” Reynolds said.

The Jamaican-American has taught at the OIC since February.

“For me, it is very satisfying for them to demonstrate the knowledge I share with them,” Reynolds said.

Employers covet workforce development. Multiple community college presidents and spokespeople from OIC confirmed they are talking to business owners on a rolling basis about filling jobs.

Joshua Pettaway, 31, has found his niche with the carpentry program.

“I knew a little bit about carpentry, but I know a whole lot more now thanks to Mr. Reynolds,” Pettaway said.

Jameshia Cathey is one of his classmates who will graduate from the same class. She said there’s a great sense of pride in knowing there’s a path ahead for her future. Cathey found out she likes working with her hands when she was about 20 years old.

Cathey said she can’t wait to be interviewed for a real job.

“It actually feels good because I can teach them what I know,” Cathey said. “I actually want to start building sheds and selling them.”

Each person hones their hard skills, the knowledge necessary to qualify for a position, and soft skills, like flexibility and communication, while they are in the program.

Students in the carpentry course are enrolled in classes for eight weeks. Separate pursuits, like dental assisting, can be longer.

Interests notwithstanding, Reynolds said going from learning the ins and outs of measuring to earning a living fulfills the OIC motto: helping people help themselves.

“I am quite sure they feel the same way too. They accomplish something, they feel good about themselves,” Reynolds said.

No interested person will be refused admission, pending they qualify, if they cannot pay. Nationwide, the OIC was created as a nonprofit organization to train underserved black communities.

OIC has employment placement specialists on hand to help students upon graduation. The director of career services said they work hard to fill job needs in Nash and Edgecombe counties.