Rockingham Community College details quarter‑cent sales tax spending to expand workforce training

At the Aug. 18 Rockingham County Board of Commissioners meeting, Dr. Sylvia Cox, the new executive director of Rockingham Community College (RCC), outlined how the county’s quarter‑cent sales tax has been used to open and outfit the college’s Center for Workforce Development and described requests for continued funding for equipment and program expansion. The presentation cited investments in advanced manufacturing, welding, health care simulations and new classroom technology.

The presentation said the workforce center opened about a year ago and houses programs in computer‑integrated machining, robotics, mechatronics, a small‑business center and a corporate training center. The quarter‑cent sales tax covered much of the center’s build and equipment repayment, the college said. Dr. Cox described new CNC wiring, robotics and mechatronics benches, a Cisco networking academy, security cameras and HyFlex/Zoom rooms to support both in‑person and remote learning.

Why it matters: Commissioners and college leaders said the investments are intended to build a local pipeline into jobs in health care, advanced manufacturing and construction, areas county economic development had identified as priorities.

RCC highlighted several specific investments and requests: the welding lab renovation increased welding booths from 17 to 40 and installed multiprocess booths that support MIG and TIG welding; the college requested two virtual welding simulators for skills remediation; respiratory therapy and emergency medical services simulation equipment upgrades; an asphalt metal building and donated fire engine storage for the emergency services training center; a boat ramp dock for water training; start‑up equipment for a construction trades program intended to move from small projects to building a full house; and classroom renovations and a recurring capital project manager position. The college also created a quarter‑cent logo and QR code linking to a public webpage showing projects funded by the tax.

Commissioners asked questions and pressed for clarity. Commissioner Hall said the public was promised the funds would be devoted to workforce development and cautioned against "project creep," noting he was concerned to see some ongoing operational or staffing items in the catalogue of requests. “The promise was made to the public when this was put in place that this money would be for workforce development,” Hall said. Dr. Cox replied that workforce development remains the college’s focus and called the capital project manager a recurring expense the college would monitor.

Commissioner Riggs asked the college to return to a future meeting to explain the new early‑college occupational training pilot he described as a statewide pilot and of likely interest to parents and students. Commissioners also praised the college’s outreach and a public QR code intended to help residents see how sales tax funds are used.

No formal action or vote on RCC’s requests was taken at the meeting; the presentation was informational and commissioners asked staff and the college to continue follow‑up and public transparency.

Ending: Dr. Cox invited commissioners and the public to use the QR code and website to track quarter‑cent projects and to return to a future meeting for further discussion and updates.