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CCCC awarded Project Skill-UP grant for ag and chef programs

02.07.2012 • College General, Continuing Education, Finances

SANFORD - The N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission has awarded Central Carolina Community College a $25,000 grant through the Project Skill-UP program of the N.C. Community College System's Continuing Education Division.

The Sustainable Agriculture class at the college's West Harnett Center and the Natural Chef Culinary Arts program at CCCC's Chatham County Campus will benefit from the grant. The NCTTF helped make these two programs possible with a $70,000 Skill-UP grant to the college in 2010.

This 2011-2012 Skill-UP grant continues the NCTTF's support for workforce training and retraining for individuals who have lost tobacco industry-related jobs as well as others interested in organic gardening or natural culinary arts.

CCCC started its Natural Chef Culinary Arts program in fall 2010 with 18 students who completed 504 hours of intensive training over 18 weeks. They learned to create dishes in the college's new Sustainable Technology Center's kitchen at the Chatham Campus. Each received a Natural Chef Culinary Arts Certification at graduation.

"The Skill-UP grant has helped to provide scholarships for students to explore their interests in a culinary career," said CCCC Chef Gregg Hamm, director of the college's Culinary & Hospitality Program as well as its Natural Chef Cafe on the Chatham County Campus, Pittsboro. "The classes open the door for new career options for the students by offering hands-on training in a commercial culinary kitchen."

Anyone interested in the Natural Chef program can contact Carl Thompson, CCCC-Chatham director of Continuing Education, at (919) 545-8015 or cthompson@cccc.edu.

The West Harnett sustainable agriculture program started in 2009 with 13 students earning certification. Sustainable agriculture uses methods and supplies that are healthy for consumers and the environment as well as being profitable for farmers.

"We will be using our grant to help backyard farmers continue to upgrade their skills so they can make a profit off the produce they grow," said Len Royals, CCCC-Harnett director of Continuing Education.

Those interested in the sustainable agriculture program in Harnett can contact Royals at (910) 814-8832 or lroyals@cccc.edu.

The NCTTF Commission at the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services funds the Project Skill-UP grant program. For 2011-12, it has awarded the NCCCS's Project Skill-UP a total of $450,000 for projects at 24 community colleges.

CCCC awarded Project Skill-UP grant for ag and chef programs

Central Carolina Community College's Natural Chef Culinary Arts program students Nikko Turner, Jaquelyn Carey, and Frankie Hayes learn to cook using organic and locally available products. This program on the college's Chatham County Campus and the Sustainable Agriculture program at the college's West Harnett Center are sharing a $25,000 grant from the NC Tobacco Trust Fund. The grant was received through the Project Skill-UP program of the N.C. Community College System's Continuing Education Division. Skill-UP grants primarily support workforce training and retraining programs for individuals who have lost tobacco industry-related jobs. The NCTTF helped make these two college programs possible with a $70,000 Skill-UP grant in 2010.

CCCC awarded Project Skill-UP grant for ag and chef programs

The hoophouse of the Sustainable Agriculture program at Central Carolina Community College's West Harnett Center is used for training students to grow crops organically. This program and the college's Natural Chef Culinary Arts program on the Chatham County Campus are sharing a $25,000 grant from the NC Tobacco Trust Fund. The grant was received through the Project Skill-UP program of the N.C. Community College System's Continuing Education Division. Skill-UP grants primarily support workforce training and retraining programs for individuals who have lost tobacco industry-related jobs. The NCTTF helped make these two college programs possible with a $70,000 Skill-UP grant in 2010.

CCCC awarded Project Skill-UP grant for ag and chef programs

The NC Tobacco Trust Fund has awarded a $25,000 grant to Central Carolina Community College for its Natural Chef Culinary Arts program at the college's Chatham County Campus and its Sustainable Agriculture program at its West Harnett Center. The grant was received through the Project Skill-UP program of the N.C. Community College System's Continuing Education Division. Skill-UP grants primarily support workforce training and retraining programs for individuals who have lost tobacco industry-related jobs. The NCTTF helped make these two college programs possible with a $70,000 Skill-UP grant in 2010.