December 14, 2025

Forsyth Tech has been awarded a $300,000 Area Development program grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to establish the Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Development Initiative (PAADI), a new educational and workforce training program designed to expand career pathway opportunities in Information Technology and Healthcare for graduating high school students in Forsyth and Stokes Counties.

The grant will support Forsyth Tech’s work with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools and Stokes County Schools to transition existing College and Career Promise (CCP) pathways into three formal youth apprenticeship programs. The initiative will also recruit 25 local businesses to employ and mentor youth apprentices and will include a business-focused event to build awareness and long-term employer participation.

“Forsyth Tech is committed to connecting students to real career opportunities while meeting urgent regional workforce needs,” said Dr. Janet Spriggs, President of Forsyth Tech. “This investment helps us strengthen education-to-career pipelines in fields that are essential to our community.”

Across Forsyth and Stokes Counties, employers face persistent workforce shortages in Healthcare and Information Technology. ARC notes projected job growth of 4.5% in healthcare and 2.6% in IT by 2028, while the local talent pipeline has not kept pace, especially for students who lack accessible on-ramps into high-demand careers. The PAADI project is intended to address these gaps through structured, career-connected pathways that provide hands-on experience, industry credentials, and access to long-term employment opportunities.

The initiative emphasizes “earn while you learn” apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships supported by stipends to help cover indirect costs such as transportation, uniforms, and time away from paid work. This approach is expected to reduce financial barriers for students exploring or starting careers in these sectors.

By the end of the grant period, Forsyth Tech anticipates serving and improving outcomes for high school students, trainees, and business partners. The project also expects to implement two new programs tied to these pathways. To learn about apprenticeships and experiential learning already happening at the college, click here.

In addition to ARC funding, local sources will provide a $300,000 match, bringing total project support to $600,000.