CCC&TI’s Watauga Expansion Project to Help Meet Demand for Skilled WorkersCCC&TI Template
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Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute has been a vital part of Watauga County for several decades, continually expanding program offerings, facilities, and resources for local students. Currently, CCC&TI is in the final stages of expanding its Watauga Occupational Training Facility to add 10,000 square feet of instructional space to the building. The addition will enable CCC&TI to provide more training opportunities in a variety of skilled trade programs which are enrolling for fall semester.
The lower floor of the expansion has been dedicated entirely to skilled trades training and will provide more space for programs like plumbing, HVAC, and residential wiring. The additional space will allow the college to offer more sections of training courses in these high-wage, high-demand programs with a goal of increasing the number of skilled workers in these fields.
As the region continues to rebuild following Hurricane Helene, administrators and local leaders say the expansion and increase in training opportunities for local students in these fields could not come at a better time.
Local plumber and part-time CCC&TI instructor, Jeff Voss, says that there is always a need for more qualified and trained workers in these fields. “The demand for qualified service and construction plumbers along with the other trades is never ending. All plumbing systems, HVAC systems and electrical systems will break and require some type of repair. New installations for commercial and residential properties are always ongoing,” said Voss. “There is always a need for more qualified people to get the work done.”
Voss says that this expansion will be a benefit to the community, to local businesses, and to students interested in learning a trade and earning competitive wages.
“The benefit to the industry is obvious, we will have more qualified and educated individuals entering the trades to provide these services to the community. The benefit to the community is the creation of high paying jobs to provide families a way to make a good living and support the communities where they live and work,” said Voss. “CCC&TI provides a way for individuals to learn a career that is rewarding, valued and recession proof. There will always be opportunities for individuals to get work in skilled trades. Those that have training in those fields will have a better shot at getting a better starting wage and be looked at for advancement more closely. And for those who want to change their career paths, the trades can offer a better way of life, better income and a more rewarding work life.”
Much has been said about skilled trades over the last few months in the High Country. The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Vision Northwest Conference held in May, shined a spotlight on skilled trades and the need for more workers in these fields.
Voss says that the idea that all roads to success begin with a four-year degree is outdated and hopes more individuals will see the opportunities for success that exist in these fields now and into the future. “The time of ‘You must have a 4-year degree to make a difference or support a family,’ is outdated and incorrect,” said Voss. “CCC&TI offers a variety of pathways for individuals who want to be successful and that will help them become a productive person in the community.”
CCC&TI’s skilled trade courses include both classroom instruction and hands-on work in the college’s lab facilities that allow students to practice skills and concepts learned in the classroom. Enrollment is open now for courses in HVAC, Plumbing, and Residential Wiring on the Watauga Campus for the fall semester.
For more information on these courses or to enroll, visit www.cccti.edu or contact Justin
Harris, Director of Energy and Construction Trades, at
Pictured is CCC&TI alumnus Kevin Smith in the college’s plumbing lab. Smith recently completed CCC&TI’s training course and is now employed in the industry.
