June 30, 2026

 Foster USA, Forsyth Technical Community College and NCEdge Customized Training officially kicked off a three-year workforce training partnership designed to support employee growth, strengthen leadership and technical skills, and create long-term impact for the Winston-Salem community and North Carolina’s workforce. 

The kickoff event brought together Foster USA leadership, employees, NC Community College System representatives and training professionals for the first session of the initiative, led by Dr. Willie Jones. 

“This kickoff was a strong first step in building a shared language around leadership and communication,” said Dr. Willie Jones. “The Foster team brought great energy to the room, and when participants can see themselves in the material and immediately apply it to how they lead, communicate and collaborate, it creates a foundation for stronger relationships, better collaboration and long-term growth.” 

For Foster USA, the initiative represents more than a training program. It is part of a larger commitment to investing in people as the company continues to grow its presence in Winston-Salem. 

“At Foster, our people are at the center of everything we do. This partnership with Forsyth Tech and NCEdge gives us the opportunity to invest directly in our team, 

strengthen leadership and communication across the organization and support long-term growth here in Winston-Salem.” said Scott Bland, CEO of Foster USA. 

Foster USA, an agile food supply chain solutions company with North Carolina roots dating back to 1902, recently expanded its operations in Winston-Salem. The company has committed $6.25 million to convert 60,000 square feet of warehouse space into state-of-the-art cold storage and add new conditioning and ripening rooms to support its continued growth. 

Through this partnership with Forsyth Tech Community College and NCEdge, Foster is pairing that facility investment with a direct investment in its workforce. The three-year project is expected to support retention and professional development for Foster’s 235 incumbent workers, while providing a robust onboarding pipeline for the 35 to 58 new full-time positions that will be created over the next three years. 

The customized training will support a range of workforce needs, including leadership development, workplace communication, safety, food distribution operations, technology, compliance and process improvement. The goal is to help employees build skills that support career growth while strengthening Foster’s operations and long-term success in Forsyth County. In line with Foster’s people-first culture, all training sessions are conducted on-the-clock and fully compensated. 

The project is supported through NCEdge Customized Training, a program of the North Carolina Community College System that works through the state’s 58 community colleges to help eligible businesses meet workforce training needs. By partnering directly with employers and local colleges, NCEdge helps create training solutions that support business growth, employee retention, productivity, and economic competitiveness. 

For the public, the partnership offers a clear example of how workforce development happens in real time: a growing local company, a community college and a statewide training program working together to support jobs, strengthen skills and create opportunity close to home. 

As Foster continues building its future in Winston-Salem, the partnership with Forsyth Tech and NCEdge highlights the power of connecting business needs with local workforce solutions. Together, the organizations are helping ensure employees have the skills, confidence and support needed to grow with the company and contribute to the region’s economic future.