NEWS

Tuition-free 10-week program helps students build skills, earn certifications, access job placement assistance and receive up to $1,000 in student incentives

FeedNC is encouraging local residents who are unemployed or underemployed and looking to jump-start a career in the culinary or warehouse field to apply for its Fall Workforce Development program by Friday, September 4.

The tuition-free, 10-week program provides hands-on training, industry certifications, job placement assistance, and up to $1,000 in student incentives. The goal is to help participants build real skills, gain experience, and feel prepared to take the next step toward meaningful employment and greater financial stability.

The Fall 2026 session begins September 14, with participants choosing between Culinary and Warehouse training tracks. Classes are held Monday through Friday from 9:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.

FeedNC’s Workforce Development program goes beyond job training. In addition to learning technical skills, participants receive support designed to address some of the real-life barriers that can make finding and maintaining employment difficult.

Participants receive:

• 150 hours of hands-on job training
• 50 hours of life-skills curriculum
• Marketable industry certifications
• Real-world work experience
• Assistance finding local employment opportunities
• Up to $1,000 in incentives per student

“Our Workforce Development program is about so much more than helping someone find their next job,” said Brittany Fancher, Chief Operating Officer at FeedNC. “We want our students to leave with the skills and certifications they need to build a career, but also with more confidence in themselves and a team that believes in them. When we can help someone create real, lasting change in their life, that impact doesn’t stop with them. It impacts their family and ultimately makes our whole community stronger.”

In 2025, FeedNC Workforce Development graduates saw an average wage increase of approximately $11 per hour after completing the program, demonstrating the role workforce training can play in helping individuals move toward sustainable employment and long-term self-sufficiency.

For participants, that impact can be deeply personal. One graduate shared, “I love this program and the people here. It has been life-changing. I fully believe anyone who goes through this program will come out a different person. I have never experienced anything quite as special as this. I will always remember my time and the people here. Thank you for giving me an opportunity at a better life.”

Applications for the Fall 2026 session must be submitted by Friday, September 4.

Individuals interested in applying can do so at feednc.org/applyforservices or contact Brie Mack-Bingham, FeedNC Program Manager, at 980-890-6228 or bmackbingham@gmail.com.

About FeedNC

FeedNC is a Mooresville-based nonprofit organization committed to creating connections to food, education and resources as a catalyst for change. Through programs including Grassroots Grocery, Donoghue’s Open Door Community Dining, Workforce Development, Food Rescue and other community initiatives, FeedNC works to meet immediate needs while creating opportunities for long-term stability and self-sufficiency.