Leaders from Cumberland County, the City of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC), and the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC) completed a fact-finding visit to Huntsville, Alabama on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. The goal was to explore innovative education industry partnerships that could help develop a next-generation workforce pipeline in the Fayetteville region.

The delegation included Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Chairman Kirk deViere, City of Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin, FCEDC President and CEO Robert Van Geons, and FTCC President Dr. Mark Sorrells. They toured the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE) and met with leaders from Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).

“FTCC is the workforce engine for the talent pipeline in Cumberland County and the Sandhills region,” said FTCC President Dr. Mark Sorrells in a press release. “The College is committed to expanding that pipeline into middle and high schools, and the ASCTE model offers an innovative approach that aligns with the workforce ecosystem we’ve built in cybersecurity and are continuing to develop in healthcare, construction trades, manufacturing and other high-demand fields. This model strengthens our ability to accelerate students from the classroom into meaningful employment in defense and emerging technology sectors.”

The delegation collectively reviewed Huntsville’s successful workforce development strategies and discussed how similar models could be adapted locally to prepare students for careers in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, advanced defense technologies and other high-demand fields.

“This visit represents exactly the kind of forward-thinking workforce development exploration our community needs,” said Chairman deViere in a press release. “Meeting students who have gone through this program and are now thriving as SAIC interns shows us the possibilities for creating direct career pathways in Cumberland County. These insights will be critical as we build strategies to grow our own tech-ready talent pipeline.”

The visit included student presentations from ASCTE graduates now interning with SAIC and other companies, highlighting how Huntsville’s education-to-career pathways support both local employers and students. The delegation also met with Huntsville business leaders to learn how leveraging Department of Defense and federal partnerships has accelerated economic growth in their region.

“The students have demonstrated what’s possible when workforce development is aligned with educational programs that incorporate emerging technologies supporting industry needs.” said City of Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin in a press release. “Forging strong ties with innovative ideas and dynamic communities will drive our success.”

This workforce development exploration builds on the region's growing educational partnerships, including the historic Education Partnership Agreement between Fayetteville State University and Fort Bragg's XVIII Airborne Corps within the UNC System, underscoring the community’s commitment to advancing education, research and innovation in critical areas related to national security and technological development.

“The workforce development strategies we observed, combined with our Innovation Corridor development and educational capabilities, position our region to create exciting new opportunities for building tomorrow’s workforce,” said FCEDC President and CEO Robert Van Geons in a press release. "Our proximity to Fort Bragg and our region's growing tech ecosystem, combined with the proven strategies we learned from Huntsville leaders, provide a roadmap for developing next-generation workforce solutions that meet the demands of emerging industries."

As Cumberland County and Fayetteville continue developing the Innovation Corridor and the NextGen Workforce Working Group, leaders will use insights from this visit to inform next steps in shaping programs that strengthen the region’s role as a hub for defense technology, innovation, and economic growth.

For more information about Cumberland County, visit cumberlandcountync.gov.

For more information about the City of Fayetteville, visit fayettevillenc.gov.

For more information about FTCC, visit faytechcc.edu.

For more information about FCEDC, visit fcedc.com.