Good Jobs WNC

Monday, September 28, 2026

(Clyde, NC) – Haywood Community College is one of eleven colleges in Western North Carolina receiving part of the $3.3 million in philanthropic commitments to support the Good Jobs Program Fund. This fund will help colleges in the region train and place 1,200 people into good jobs. These career opportunities are for promising jobs and work-based learning opportunities in this region.

cdl trucks and BLET vehicle on driving pad The Good Jobs Framework, developed by America Achieves, guides the work with a two-fold goal. These goals will prepare and place more residents into good jobs right here in Western North Carolina, and use that experience to build evidence, tools, and recommendations to improve education and workforce policy.

This initiative will share tools, labor-market findings, playbooks, and policy recommendations from implementation with other communities and states for adoption.

Additionally, this will build on early support from North Carolina philanthropy, including the John M. Belk Endowment, The Leon Levine Foundation, NCCCS Foundation, SECU Foundation, AMY Wellness Foundation, WNC Bridge Foundation, C.D. Spangler Foundation, Cannon Foundation, Dogwood Health Trust, Pisgah Health Foundation, and NC GSK Foundation.

With this funding, colleges can redesign programs to meet employer demand and track whether participants move into better-paying work. The grants build on an initial planning phase to examine labor market data and identify priority occupations to develop programs with employers.

Locally, at Haywood Community College, the CDL (Truck Driving Program) will be expanded to offer day classes. This short-term training opportunity provides a clear pathway for students to complete a 14-week course and enter the workforce after their licensure. Currently, HCC offers an evening and weekend program, but this expansion will allow the college to reach more students and could potentially double the number of students enrolled in the program.

Not only did the research from Good Jobs WNC support this goal, but it also directly aligns with the recent college expansion of Outdoor Workforce Training Facility, a dedicated space for CDL driving and classroom work.

Jodi Wijewickrama, Dean of Health, Human, and Business Services and HCC Good Jobs Lead, shares “HCC’s goal through the Good Jobs Initiative is to partner with our local employers to provide them with qualified employees who will have access to high-wage, high-demand jobs. Having the opportunity to expand our CDL program enables us to provide more qualified personnel to pursue careers across multiple industries. Funding to expand our CDL program is the first step toward building a solid foundation for our community's future.”