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Community college reports enrollment growth, $13M state workforce award and asks county for local increase
Summary
Dr. Caraway, a leader at the community college, briefed the Duplin County Board of Commissioners on enrollment growth, state funding and a local funding request and said construction on a workforce development center has reached the "notice to proceed" stage.
Dr. Caraway, a leader at the community college, briefed the Duplin County Board of Commissioners on enrollment growth, state funding and a local funding request and said construction on a workforce development center has reached the "notice to proceed" stage.
The college reported that its state-driven budget grew from $9.8 million in 2021 to about $17.4 million, which Dr. Caraway described as a roughly 67% increase driven by enrollment and program expansion. He told commissioners the General Assembly provided about $13 million for a workforce development center and that the college expects to move equipment and open the new facility if construction stays on schedule.
"We're very pleased with what we're doing, very pleased with the progress the college is making," Dr. Caraway said. He said the project received a notice to proceed from the state construction office and that contractors are on site; he estimated the college is "about a year out" from starting classes in the new building if the schedule holds.
Dr. Caraway listed several program expansions and workforce-oriented offerings, including welding and CDL training, and said the college is adding space to reduce waiting lists. He also described plans discussed internally for a future automotive program and construction trades training, including a possible hands-on house-building project for students.
On funding, Dr. Caraway said the college will ask the county for a local increase to support salary and fringe cost increases, insurance and contract services. He mentioned a legislative request of $9 million and referred to a local request described in the meeting as an increase (the transcript did not specify a single clear percentage for the local request). He also referenced an earlier comment about "25, 30 cent increase," without clarifying whether that referred to a tax-rate change or another levy mechanism.
Commissioners thanked Dr. Caraway and his staff for the college's work and did not take a formal vote on funding at the meeting. The chair and other commissioners praised the college's contribution to the county's quality of life and workforce development.
The board adjourned and set its next meeting for April 7 at 5:30 p.m., according to the meeting record.
