Western North Carolina, December 26, 2025
Graduates from the Per Scholas technology training program in Western North Carolina are successfully transitioning to better-paying tech jobs, contributing to the regions’ economic recovery after Hurricane Helene. The program, which provides tuition-free tech training, focuses on in-demand skills like IT support and cybersecurity, aiming to foster financial stability and community growth in affected areas. Per Scholas plans to train 100 rural learners by 2026, significantly improving income prospects for participants, some of whom have secured jobs with wages potentially double their previous salaries.
Charlotte, N.C.
A recent cohort of graduates from a free technology training program in Western North Carolina is successfully transitioning into higher-paying tech careers, significantly contributing to the ongoing economic recovery in communities still enduring the long-term effects of Hurricane Helene. The nonprofit organization, Per Scholas, recently commemorated the achievements of a new group of learners who completed its IT support course, marking a pivotal moment for their professional trajectories and financial stability.
This program offers completely cost-free classes focused on various in-demand technologies and essential professional development, designed to empower individuals in establishing new careers within the technology sector. Such initiatives are critically important for regions like Western North Carolina, where the devastation brought by Hurricane Helene severely impacted the hospitality industry, which had historically served as a primary source of employment and income for many residents.
Rebuilding Careers and Fostering Community Growth
Per Scholas provides tuition-free tech training, delivering practical, hands-on instruction in high-growth fields such as IT support and cybersecurity. The organization operates in collaboration with Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and is actively pursuing a goal to train 100 rural learners by 2026.
The tangible impact of this training is already evident through individual success stories. For example, Tim Kinsey, a recent IT course graduate, had previously built his career in the hospitality sector, which experienced considerable hardship and job displacement following Hurricane Helene. After successfully completing the comprehensive Per Scholas program, Kinsey secured a full-time position as a computer support technician with Henderson County. This career transition not only provided him with a new, stable job but also equipped him with vital interview techniques and professional skills crucial for navigating the demands of the modern tech industry.
Significant Economic Benefits for Affected Areas
Representatives from Per Scholas emphasize that the program aims to connect individuals with job opportunities that offer wages potentially twice what they might have earned in their previous roles. This substantial increase in income directly contributes to enhanced financial stability for families and promotes local investment within their communities across Western North Carolina. The nonprofit strategically expanded its operations and outreach in the region specifically in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, acknowledging the urgent need to help residents discover viable new career pathways as traditional service and hospitality jobs struggled to rebound.
The success of this initiative highlights broader, ongoing efforts across North Carolina to strengthen the state’s workforce and drive sustained economic growth. North Carolina actively supports workforce development through a diverse array of grant programs that facilitate connections between businesses and crucial training resources. These resources are designed to upskill existing employees, ensuring they can adapt and respond effectively to evolving industry demands. Such statewide programs are indispensable for cultivating a competitive workforce and attracting new employment opportunities throughout North Carolina.
Comprehensive Statewide Workforce Development Initiatives
Beyond the targeted efforts of Per Scholas, North Carolina implements several extensive statewide programs aimed at enhancing diverse workforce skills. The NCEdge Customized Training Program, administered by the North Carolina Community College System, stands as a long-standing and premier workforce development initiative since its establishment in 1958. This program provides free, highly tailored job training and recruitment support for both new and expanding businesses across all 100 counties of the state. NCEdge serves a wide spectrum of industries, including information technology, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and warehousing and distribution, by developing a highly skilled and job-ready workforce.
In the last five years alone, the NCEdge program has generated over $443 million in economic impact. During the fiscal year 2022-2023, the Customized Training Program successfully supported more than 250 new businesses and 600 expanding businesses, resulting in training for over 26,500 employees with an investment of $9.9 million in training initiatives.
In a further commitment to workforce advancement, the North Carolina Association of Workforce Development Boards (NCAWDB) partnered with Safal Partners in September 2025. This collaboration aims to provide technical assistance and training services to enhance the integration of Registered Apprenticeship programs into the state’s workforce system. This strategic move aligns directly with Governor Stein’s Executive Order 11, issued in March 2025, which established a clear objective to allocate six percent of federal Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I Youth and Adult funds towards pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs. These collective statewide efforts are designed to create expanded career pathways for North Carolinians and to provide robust support for local employers who offer these vital training programs.
The sustained emphasis on comprehensive workforce development, particularly within rapidly growing tech-related fields, is proving instrumental in helping North Carolina residents—especially those in regions like Western NC recovering from significant natural disasters—to secure promising, stable, and economically rewarding futures.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the main news about in Western North Carolina?
- New graduates from a free technology training program, Per Scholas, are starting higher-paying tech careers, aiding economic recovery in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene.
- Which organization provides the tech training?
- The tech training is provided by Per Scholas, a nonprofit organization.
- Is the training program free?
- Yes, Per Scholas offers completely cost-free classes and tuition-free tech training.
- Who does the program help?
- The program primarily helps workers rebuilding careers, particularly those affected by Hurricane Helene’s devastation in Western North Carolina, and aims to train rural learners.
- What kind of skills are taught?
- The program provides hands-on instruction in in-demand tech fields such as IT support and cybersecurity.
- What is the goal of Per Scholas in Western NC?
- Per Scholas, in partnership with Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, aims to train 100 rural learners by 2026.
- What is the potential financial impact for graduates?
- The program connects individuals to job opportunities offering wages potentially twice what they might have earned before.
Key Features of the Per Scholas Tech Training Program
| Feature | Description | Geographic Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Program Name | Per Scholas Tech Training Program | Western North Carolina |
| Cost | Free/Cost-free/Tuition-free | State-level |
| Target Audience | Workers rebuilding careers (especially post-Hurricane Helene), rural learners | Western North Carolina |
| Skills Taught | IT support, cybersecurity, other in-demand tech fields | State-level |
| Key Partnership | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Western North Carolina |
| Training Goal | 100 rural learners by 2026 | Western North Carolina |
| Income Impact Goal | Connect individuals to jobs with potentially double previous wages | State-level |
| Program Focus | Economic opportunity, career stability, community investment | State-level |
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