April 25, 2025

With support from a $5 million Aligning the Workforce and Education System for Manufacturing (AWESM) grant, Forsyth Tech and its regional partners achieved major milestones that are transforming how students prepare for high-demand careers.

The eight colleges leading this effort include:
• Forsyth Technical Community College
• Alamance Community College
• Davidson-Davie Community College
• Guilford Technical Community College
• Montgomery Community College
• Randolph Community College
• Rockingham Community College
• Surry Community College

Backed by the U.S. Department of Labor, the AWESM project focused on aligning education with real workforce needs—and it delivered. A central strategy was employer engagement. More than 118 companies participated in the first regionally focused Business & Industry Leadership Team (BILT). These employers helped define 170 core competencies—known as Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)—that now shape curriculum in machining, welding, mechatronics, and industrial systems technology.

The result? A total of 21 regionally standardized courses were developed for use in both curriculum and continuing education programs. Additionally, participating colleges now have access to 54 custom-developed digital badges and 59 existing, industry-recognized badges from organizations like the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3). These badges align with the identified KSAs and are deployed in response to local employer needs and guidance from regional and local BILTs and advisory boards. To date, more than 700 badges have been awarded to students across the consortium.

The project also addressed barriers beyond the classroom. Together, the colleges partnered with 356 organizations to provide holistic student support—ranging from tutoring and transportation to childcare and career coaching. In total, 523 students enrolled in WIOA-funded training programs, far surpassing the original goal. Meanwhile, 51 students earned Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), helping them save time and money on their path to completion.

The AWESM grant officially concluded in early 2025, but its impact continues. From aligned curriculum and employer-driven credentials to wraparound student support, this initiative laid the groundwork for a more connected and responsive workforce pipeline across the region.

As one consortium partner shared:

“I hope we continue to work together even though the grant may be over… we’ve built a good foundation for regional cooperation.”

Want to dive deeper into the results? Read the full evaluation report by The Rucks Group here.