Caterpillar Announces Up To $10 Million For North Carolina Workforce Training

Caterpillar, which operates a manufacturing facility in Clayton, announced Thursday it will invest up to $10 million in workforce training efforts across North Carolina.

The funding is part of the company’s five-year, $100 million Building the Future Workforce Initiative and is aimed at preparing workers for modern manufacturing and industrial technician jobs.

Caterpillar employs more than 3,600 people in North Carolina and works with 325 suppliers across the state.

The company’s Clayton facility manufactures small wheel loaders and supports distribution of backhoe loaders.

“Investing in people is essential to building the workforce advanced manufacturing will need for the future,” said Christy Pambianchi, Caterpillar’s chief human resources officer. “North Carolina’s growth creates an opportunity to help more people build the skills they need for careers in manufacturing and strengthen the workforce that will support the industry for years to come.”

Caterpillar is working with Central Carolina Community College and the Sanford Area Growth Alliance on the initiative.

The effort will focus on hands-on manufacturing training, employer involvement and making career training more accessible to students and workers.

The workforce investment comes as Caterpillar is also planning approximately $1 billion in manufacturing expansion in North Carolina, including a new facility in Sanford to increase production of compact track loaders and telehandlers.

Gov. Josh Stein said the investment reflects North Carolina’s manufacturing workforce.

“North Carolina is home to the largest manufacturing workforce in the Southeast, and Caterpillar recognizes what our state brings to the table,” Stein said. “I thank Caterpillar for its long-standing partnership and look forward to more economic opportunity coming to Sanford.”

North Carolina is the latest state to receive funding through Caterpillar’s workforce initiative, following similar efforts in Indiana, Texas, Illinois and Arkansas.