Yesterday's skills are becoming outdated in today's economy.  To succeed, workers must have up-to-date training. Bearing in mind the value of a highly-trained workforce, North Carolina offers workforce development programs that are both dynamic and current.

North Carolina's Community College System provides world-class workforce training.  The NCCCS' offerings provide businesses with a precious resource:  valuable human capital.  The NCCCS offers customized training to North Carolina companies, and companies that choose to locate in the state. The Customized Training Program was amended in 2008, integrating the New and Expanding Industry Training Program and the Customized Industry Training Program to more effectively respond to business and industry.   The program was developed in recognition of the fact that one of the most important factors for a business or industry considering locating, expanding, or remaining in North Carolina is the ability of the State to ensure the presence of a well-trained workforce. The program is designed to react quickly to the needs of businesses and to respect the confidential nature of proprietary processes and information within those businesses.
 
Another resource the state offers is BioNetwork.  BioNetwork is a statewide initiative connecting community colleges across North Carolina, to provide specialized training, curricula and equipment, to develop a world-class workforce for the life sciences industry sector with the critical hands-on training needed.

BioNetwork provides:

• Corporate Training in fields ranging from a Biofuels Associate Degree to Agricultural Biotechnology, and more. 
• Community Colleges provide up-to-date, industry-compliant curricula and courses. For a listing of educational opportunities relevant to biofuels, click here:

The NC Community College System also has an Economic and Workforce Development Division that offers a range of services, resources, including the Small Business Center Network. 

NCCCS BioNetwork is a statewide initiative connecting community colleges across the state.  It provides specialized training, curricula and equipment, for the life sciences sector, giving North Carolina companies a strategic competitive advantage in the global marketplace.   Community Colleges with biomanufacturing, biotechnology, and life sciences curricula are part of BioNetwork .   Biofuels manufacturing is also served by BioNetwork.

Need a trained workforce?

New hires must have received appropriate hands-on training to be effective workers in large-scale biomanufacturing facilities. BioNetwork Community Colleges can provide this training.  Short courses like Bioprocessing in the Workplace are designed to help companies' new hires transition into this industry.  North Carolina's ability to develop people has convinced many of the world's largest biomanufacturing facilities to begin or grow operations in North Carolina.  Because bioethanol production is a form of biomanufacturing, the Community College System will be able to provide customized workforce training to companies starting new facilities or relocating to the state.

BioNetwork provides support to community colleges through several small, targeted centers, including:

Capstone Center
The Capstone Center focuses on offering incumbent workers, new hires, and community college students hands-on, short-course-based training in a simulated cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice) facility.

Bioprocessing Center
The Bioprocessing Center works with companies to understand their specific workforce needs.  The Center then works with that company's local community college to provide relevant training to meet its needs.

BioEd Center
The BioEd Center at Gaston College develops training for future workers in the following ways:
    •    Creating advanced techniques for delivering biotechnology courses
    •    Developing multimedia models for training
    •    Supporting grants
    •    Partnering with other organizations to develop accreditation for biotechnology jobs

BioAgriculture Center
The purpose of the BioAg Center is to coordinate education and training activities to help workers and farmers in the area of agricultural biotechnology practices, including plant tissue culturing.  The center was developed to facilitate economic growth through its agricultural biotechnology programs. and it plays an important role in biofuels education and training.

BioBusiness Center
Located in an Asheville incubator, this Center promotes life sciences' startups.  The BioBusiness Center serves as an innovative service hub where resources can be found to jump start a life-sciences or related business.  These resources include:
    •    Start-up information
    •    Educational programs
    •    Business direction
    •    Support coordination
    •    Mentoring
    •    Referrals

For more, visit BioNetwork.