North Carolina
Boomtowns NC: Community colleges across the Triangle play key role in economic development
WAKE COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) — As North Carolina continues to earn praise for its economic development, the state’s community college system is playing a major role in workforce training.
“What sets us apart is our talent and our ability to produce more talent all the time. No other southeastern state can boast our community college system, with 58 institutions that are nimbly presenting new curricula that meet the needs of these companies,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley, who was recently part of a delegation to travel to Japan in efforts to attract further investment in the state.
Lila Bradshaw, who is in her final semester at Johnston Community College, is excited at the opportunities afforded to her in the classroom.
“At JCC, you can really get the education you need to be able to go into those workforces,” Bradshaw explained.
“One of our buildings, the Workforce Development Center, is basically funded almost entirely by our biopharma industry partners. Students can come for a BioWork certificate and be in and out of the program in just a matter of weeks, and they’re instantly employable by either Novo Nordisk or Grifols or any of the other biopharma (companies),” explained Dr. Vern Lindquist, the President of Johnston Community College.
Bradshaw hopes to land a temp job in the life sciences industry before attending NC State.
“With the programs at JCC, you can apply (the skills) to a lot of different jobs, especially in RTP. There’s a whole lot of firms (and) companies opening,” Bradshaw explained.
Earlier this year, NC State announced the formation of Wolfpack Connect, a program which provides a guaranteed admissions pathway for community college students who meet certain criteria.
The students who transfer from the community college system to the four-year system graduate at higher rates than students who start at the four- year institutions and they graduate with higher GPA’s
“I’m very glad I went to a community college first before I decided to go to a university because the community, in my opinion, is way different. It’s a lot smaller, it’s a lot more affordable,” Bradshaw explained.
Across the North Carolina Community College System, enrollment has increased just over 10% over the past four academic years.
“I’ve been in Virginia, Illinois, New York. I’ve never been in a market that’s growing like this before. This is just kind of off the charts growth. The system itself is growing, not just us. It’s pretty amazing to be in a place where every year the college is getting bigger and better, and I’m hiring more faculty,” said Lindquist.
Keeping up with that growth remains a challenge.
“We’re seeing waiting lists across the board that began in July in areas where we don’t want to have waiting lists. Electricians, HVAC, law enforcement area. So the biggest challenge for us and the only thing that limits our growth right now is our ability to hire additional instructors,” said Dr. Scott Ralls, President of Wake Tech.
Ralls pointed to PropelNC, a model which incentivizes schools to invest in high-demand sectors.
“We’re the largest education provider for public safety, law enforcement/fire in the state and other areas like that, or the new companies that are coming in. Biopharma – being one of the fastest growing regions to our health care, where we’re primary higher education health care delivery. Across the breadth of all the job needs in Wake County, we are there,” Ralls explained.
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The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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