The newly completed Carolyn and George Armstrong Building Trades Center at Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) marks a strategic investment in the region’s talent pipeline and economic competitiveness. What was once a car dealership has been transformed into a modern training hub that directly aligns with labor market needs in carpentry, plumbing, HVAC and electrical trades. Supported by state construction infrastructure funding from the North Carolina General Assembly and the generosity of Carolyn and George Armstrong, the facility embodies a shared commitment by public, private and educational partners to build a job-ready workforce for Cumberland County and the surrounding region.

“Today marks an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to partner to build a comprehensive workforce ecosystem here in Cumberland County and the Sandhills,” shared FTCC President Dr. Mark Sorrells. “Private sector partners, business leaders, industry representatives and employers, thank you for your continued engagement and the critical role you play in shaping our region's workforce. That partnership that you’ve helped initiate with Fayetteville Tech has been critically important in terms of the work that we’re doing. This facility is a powerful example of our commitment from the college to align our programs with the employment needs of our community.”

This new facility is designed as a first-year learning environment, where students gain foundational, hands-on skills before spending their second year primarily on job sites. That progression reinforces FTCC’s goal that graduates be fully prepared to contribute on day one.

The facility also responds directly to a well-documented labor shortage in the skilled trades. 

“One of the most effective ways to build that workforce ecosystem is through on-the-job training, internships, apprenticeships and work-based learning courses. These experiences allow our students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings, understand workplace culture and build relationships with future colleagues. They also allow employers to shape the skills and expectations of the future workforce,” added Sorrells. “When students learn by doing and earn while learning, they gain confidence, clarity and purpose. Our employers also benefit. They gain workers who are prepared, committed and ready to contribute on day one.”

Local companies routinely seek FTCC graduates for roles ranging from field laborers and supervisors to project managers and general contractors. Instructors report consistently high job placement rates for program completers.

The Carolyn and George Armstrong Building Trades Center positions FTCC as a pivotal connector between education and industry. The ribbon cutting signifies not just the opening of a facility, but the strengthening of an ecosystem designed to support long-term economic growth and workforce resilience.