About NCMI

The North Carolina Manufacturing Institute initiative was conceived in the summer of 2014 during meetings with leaders in Rowan and Cabarrus counties from both chambers of commerce, economic development authorities, the Centralina Workforce Development Board and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Iredell County joined the initiative in 2016 with the involvement of their Economic Development Corporation.

The North Carolina Manufacturing Institute is a response to employers' need for solving talent recruitment issues in order to grow and remain competitive. This initiative builds a clear and achievable pathway for people to acquire those skills in order to access good jobs in local communities.

Manufacturing firms will benefit from partnering with the North Carolina Manufacturing Institute through access to a pipeline of screened, trained, certified production technicians who can help them achieve their business goals.

The North Carolina Manufacturing Institute is specially designed to link and leverage the existing assets of Rowan, Cabarrus, and Iredell counties to solve a growing gap between regional job seekers and available positions. Its innovative funding and operational structure allows the Institute to deliver results in response to a rapidly-growing need for manufacturing employees with certified skills and verified work readiness.

Strategic Vision:

To build a world class talent pool to support the retention and growth of regional manufacturers

Key Focus Areas:

• Deliver training that closes the skill gap between job seekers and available jobs
• Provide services and systems to more effectively match job seekers and available jobs in the manufacturing sector
• Improve the image of manufacturing employment among job seekers, students, parents, and school personnel

How You Can Benefit

Hear what the past graduates had to say about their experience with the North Carolina Manufacturing Institute.