Caldwell County has long been a leader in manufacturing in North Carolina. With assistance from local businesses, the Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute has developed training programs which simulate the real manufacturing work environment, with the specific instruction and equipment needed to meet current industry standards. This collaborative design guarantees a secured path to high-wage job opportunities for students as well as a promising talent pool for regional employers.
In 2020, CCC&TI converted a 13,600-square-foot former retail building at the corner of Pine Mountain Road and Hickory Boulevard in Hudson into the Paul H. Broyhill Center for Advanced Technologies. With integral support from the Broyhill Family Foundation, the building was named after the late Paul H. Broyhill for his many years of influence within the institution and the community.
"It's a real honor to have Dad's name on this building," said Hunt Broyhill, Paul's son. "He was a builder of things; he was a builder of people; and he was a builder of communities. There is no better junction of these three ideas than this building: machines, people, and community."
Featuring an artificial factory environment with modern classrooms and high-tech equipment, the Center for Advanced Technologies houses the Engineering and Industrial Systems Technology programs, which include training in electronics engineering, mechanical engineering, machining, and mechatronics. Students in these new programs will learn multi-craft technical skills in electricity, machining or fabrication, print reading, welding, diagnostic and repair procedures, hydraulics and pneumatics, and mechanical systems maintenance.
"This building is a testament to the new spirit of Caldwell County," said Deborah Murray, executive director of the Economic Development Commission.
©2021 the News-Topic (Lenoir, N.C.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
