Durham commissioners proclaim 'BULLS Life Sciences Academy Day', praise workforce gains

The Durham County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 12 read a proclamation recognizing "BULLS Life Sciences Academy Day" and thanked partners for the academy’s role connecting residents to life‑sciences careers.

Chair Dr. Mike Lee read the proclamation noting the public‑private partnership that launched the BULLS Academy and its stated goal of expanding education‑to‑career pathways. The proclamation commended partners including Made in Durham and Durham Technical Community College and noted that recent cohorts produced graduates now working in the life‑sciences sector.

Andrew Miracle, Durham County’s director of economic development, thanked the Board and partner organizations and said the county has provided recurring funding and ARPA support to expand the program. He told the Board the program has graduated more than 200 students and reported that 77 graduates have obtained employment in the life‑sciences field.

Casey Steinbecker, executive director of Made in Durham, summarized the program’s origins as a partnership between community organizations, the college and employers to address a gap in high‑wage industry pipelines. She said the academy provides coursework and supports that prepare residents for entry‑level roles in biomanufacturing.

BULLS student Nikkta Mahan described her experience, saying she discovered the academy at Durham Tech, has worked at Eli Lilly as a process technician and is pursuing an associate degree in biotechnology. The Board highlighted the program’s graduation and placement rates and expressed support for continued county investment.

The proclamation and remarks focused on workforce development and did not include any separate motions or binding funding approvals; approvals for specific county funding appear elsewhere on the agenda.