NCCER & Lowe’s Partner Blue Ridge Community College for Post-Hurricane Construction Workforce Training

WNC -- Press Release NCCER: With assistance from the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and Lowe’s, Blue Ridge Community College has launched a new accelerated construction workforce training program to help Western North Carolina workers secure stable jobs while assisting in the rebuilding of their communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. 

Free to students through a full scholarship, the first training course begins April 9, 2025.

When Hurricane Helene unleashed historic flooding on Western North Carolina last September, the resulting estimated damages and needs totaled $59.6 billion. Lives and communities were devastated. Wanting to assist in recovery efforts, NCCER, the leading nonprofit construction education foundation, and Lowe’s partnered with Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, NC, to launch a Rapid Recovery Construction Academy (RRCA). RRCA is a quick-start framework designed by NCCER that provides free construction training and job placement services to individuals in areas impacted by natural disasters. The people RRCAs serve have lost their jobs; the program makes it possible for them to not only learn new skills to contribute to rebuilding efforts but also get started in the high-demand field of construction.

This partnership, made possible by Lowe’s remarkable donation, allows for those impacted by Helene to not only gain specialized training, industry-recognized credentials and employment, but directly rebuild the communities in which they live.

“At NCCER, we are passionate about the power of construction education to transform lives,” said Melissa Perkins, director of philanthropy and partnerships. “We have already seen how a RRCA ignites hope in other communities impacted by disaster, and we are proud to work with Lowe’s to do this important work again for another community in need.”

NCCER and Lowe’s previously joined forces in 2023 after Hurricane Ian to help rebuild Fort Myers, FL. Fifty-two people graduated from this RRCA, learning the skills and gaining the hands-on experience needed for a fulfilling, well-paying career in construction. In turn, the community gained skilled workers ready to immediately help with restoration efforts.

“Throughout this long recovery from Hurricane Helene, Blue Ridge Community College remains dedicated to collaborating with our partners to support the community and strengthen the workforce,” said Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood, Blue Ridge’s president. “Key to this effort is expanding the reach of our region’s construction trades industry, and we are deeply grateful to Lowe’s for its support through the NCCER Rapid Recovery Construction Academy. Through this new program at Blue Ridge, those who have endured great losses have an opportunity to rebuild both their lives and their communities.”

In Western North Carolina, Blue Ridge Community College will lead recruitment efforts to attract 125 residents to join the RRCA, which the college has named “Level Up: Core Construction.” The program provides a comprehensive foundation for success in the construction field, covering safety protocols, blueprint reading, hand and power tool operation, as well as communication and employability skills development. The program is scheduled to begin April 9, with additional sessions planned through the fall.

“A critical component to Blue Ridge Community College’s mission is to empower students with the knowledge and skills needed to build a competitive workforce,” said Dr. Scott Queen, Blue Ridge’s vice president for economic and workforce development. “Participating in an RRCA gives us a way to fulfill that mission while providing hope to our community members most affected by the recent hurricane. This partnership will provide clear pathways to new jobs and a restored community.”

For those in Western North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene, information about Blue Ridge’s new accelerated “Level Up: Core Construction” program can be accessed at www.blueridge.edu/construction. Applicants may also call Blue Ridge at 828-694-1735 for assistance.

More information about how to change lives through construction education is available: nccer.org/who-we-are/philanthropy-partnerships

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