Asheville Citizen-Times
The BlackRock Foundation has awarded a $1 million, two-year grant to Charlotte-based Per Scholas North Carolina, a nationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to advancing economic mobility through building sustainable and inclusive tech talent pipelines. The investment will expand Per Scholas’ footprint in Western North Carolina, providing workforce training programs in underserved rural communities to fill tech job vacancies across the state.
In partnership with Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, the program will offer boot camp-style IT Support training, equipping individuals with the skills needed to secure remote, high-wage tech jobs. A-B Tech will begin offering the training, which is valued at over $10,000 per course, beginning Feb. 24 at no cost to students.
The IT Support training is a 35-hour per week, 13-week course. The first course is set for 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday, Feb. 24 - May 23. Learn more and register at IT Support.
The grant addresses a significant tech workforce gap in the state. While North Carolina’s booming IT sector has seen an 18% increase in unique job postings since last year, many rural communities continue to struggle with low wages and limited job opportunities. The BlackRock Foundation’s investment will help Per Scholas bridge this gap, equipping more North Carolinians with the skills to access high-paying careers in a rapidly growing field.
"By supporting Per Scholas in North Carolina, we’re helping expand access to high-quality training, equipping people in underserved communities with the skills they need to thrive in the rapidly growing tech sector," said Claire Chamberlain, president of The BlackRock Foundation. "This work aligns with our mission at The BlackRock Foundation — creating long-term opportunities for economic growth and security."
This grant comes at a critical moment as WNC works to rebuild from the devastation of Tropical Storm Helene, which left more than 8,000 people unemployed. This initiative will help support the recovery by contributing to long-term economic opportunity in the region.
"As part of our mission to provide economic opportunities for our community, we have been developing a partnership with Per Scholas for over a year,” said Deborah D. Bailey, vice president, of Economic and Workforce Development & Continuing Education at A-B Tech. “We are fortunate that the pieces of the partnership have come together when our community needs it most. This funding and training will help residents gain skills that provide a living wage and hopefully encourage people to remain in our region following the devastation from the hurricane."
The funding will help train 530 students across the state over the next two years, with a long-term goal of reaching 2,000 North Carolinians by 2029. The first IT Support cohort launches on Feb. 24 and runs to May 23. Interested applicants can learn more and apply at Per Scholas.
“Since our launch in 2020, Per Scholas North Carolina has created economic mobility opportunities for thousands across our state through no-cost, technical skills training, and employer connections," said Michael Terrell, Per Scholas North Carolina’s senior managing director. "We're excited to work alongside A-B Tech, with the incredibly generous support of BlackRock, to bring these opportunities for economic mobility and recovery to Western North Carolina.”
This grant is part of a larger effort at The BlackRock Foundation to expand economic security across the United States by partnering with non-governmental organizations in local economies to scale their impact. By equipping local leaders with the resources to drive meaningful change, the Foundation aims to strengthen economic security and help more people stay on the path to a secure retirement.