Sep. 14—When the announcement came in March 2023 that Pactiv-Evergreen was closing the paper mill in the western North Carolina town of Canton, all eyes in the state turned to the small community at the center of the closure's impact.
Two months later, on May 24, the mill closed its doors for good, resulting in nearly 1,000 local workers being laid off.
For those in Caldwell County who weathered the storm of furniture factory closings in the early 2000s, it was an all-too-familiar story, but one that prompted immediate action among leaders at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute in Hudson.
CCC&TI President Mark Poarch's first reaction to news of the closure was to reach out to Haywood Community College President Shelley White to offer support and opportunities for partnership to help HCC address the impending layoffs and the spike in unemployment that would follow the mill's closure.
The initial call between Poarch and White resulted in a partnership program between the colleges in an effort to offer the Caldwell Community College's Truck Driver Training Program in Haywood County.
The college provided instructors and equipment while Haywood Community College provided classrooms and training facilities. The program was fully underway with students enrolled within a few weeks.
The first graduation for the collaborative Truck Driver Training program was held in August.
Eight students, who were laid off from Pactiv-Evergreen, finished the program and several have already found jobs within the field, said Amy Bowman, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute executive director of communications and public relations.
"Our mantra over the last couple of years at CCC&TI has been Partnerships Matter," said Poarch. "This partnership program with HCC is an excellent real-world example of why they matter and the impact they can have on individuals, families and entire communities.
"The work we're doing throughout the region and the state to offer higher education and workforce training opportunities is life-changing for the students we serve. We're glad that we can extend those opportunities through partnerships likes this one with Haywood to people across the state when they need it the most."
Haywood Community College will continue its partnership with CCC&TI and continue to offer the Truck Driver Training program in the local area. The next course begins in February.
For more information about the program or to register, visit www.cccti.edu.