Southeastern Community College Receives Golden LEAF Fuding to Expand High School Welding Opportunities
Southeastern Community College has been awarded $200,000 in funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation through its Open Grants Program to expand high school welding opportunities across Columbus County.
The funding will support the development of a new mobile welding lab, along with equipment, supplies, and instructor training. This investment will expand the college’s ability to deliver hands-on welding instruction directly to high school campuses and community locations, increasing access to technical training and workforce-ready skills.
“Strengthening the workforce pipeline in rural areas requires intentional strategies that connect students to meaningful career pathways,” said Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton. “Southeastern Community College’s mobile welding lab will increase access to hands-on instruction aligned with employer demand, offer industry-recognized credentials, and equip participants for high-demand, quality jobs in Columbus County and the surrounding region.”
Dr. Brandon Jenkins, Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer at Southeastern Community College, said the initiative will significantly strengthen the college’s reach and impact.
“The addition of this mobile lab will give us much greater flexibility and agility to serve not only our high school partners and students, but also our community.”
The Golden LEAF Foundation announced more than $17.3 million in total funding during its February board meeting to support projects focused on job creation, workforce preparedness, agriculture, and economic investment across North Carolina.
The funding was secured through the collaborative efforts of Southeastern Community College faculty and staff. The college extends appreciation to Carol Ann Lydon for leading the proposal writing process, along with Mike Ammons, Paul Starnes, and Angie Ransom for contributing data and support that helped produce a successful application.
Golden LEAF’s Open Grants Program awarded three projects totaling $1.2 million statewide, supporting workforce preparedness, agriculture, and economic investment initiatives in Catawba, Columbus, and Mitchell counties.
Since 1999, the Golden LEAF Foundation has funded more than 2,300 projects totaling approximately $1.5 billion to advance economic opportunity in rural and economically distressed communities across North Carolina.
Southeastern Community College looks forward to putting the mobile welding lab into service and continuing to expand hands-on training opportunities that prepare students for high-demand careers and strengthen the regional workforce.
