As a business professional, you need confidence that the community you invest in is just as committed to your workforce pipeline as you are. That’s exactly what you’ll find in Lincoln County.
Here, you won’t be navigating disconnected programs or piecing together your own solutions. You’ll be stepping into an innovative talent ecosystem—a collaborative partnership between Lincoln County Schools, Lincoln Charter Schools, the Lincoln Economic Development Association, and local industry—built specifically to align education with real-world business needs.
This isn’t a typical workforce initiative. It’s a strategic, employer-driven model designed to ensure students are graduating with the skills, certifications, and experiences companies like yours require. From immersive programs like the 8th-grade Career and College Awareness event at Gaston College to curriculum shaped by industry input, we’re preparing students not just for jobs—but for careers that fuel your growth.
In Lincoln County, you’re not just locating your business. You’re helping shape your future workforce from day one.
Lincoln County, North Carolina, is proud of our innovative partnerships. Collaboration between the county, the Golden Leaf Foundation and the Timken Foundation has resulted in an investment of more than $1.5 million in award-winning workforce development programs that continue to pay dividends.
As a business professional, your success depends on access to a workforce that’s not only skilled—but future-ready. In Lincoln County, you’ll find a community that puts talent development at the forefront, with a workforce strategy built around the needs of employers like you.
Lincoln County is a recognized leader in workforce development, with a collaborative approach that connects educators, industry, and students from elementary school through college. These partnerships create clear, actionable pathways to careers in high-demand fields—ensuring you have a pipeline of talent that’s aligned with your growth.
Our educators are equipped with high-impact tools, real-time industry insights, and custom training programs that help prepare a workforce second to none. That commitment has earned national recognition from the International Economic Developers Council as a model workforce development program.
Everything we do is aligned with North Carolina’s myFutureNC goals and driven by real results—constantly evaluated and refined to ensure long-term impact for both our students and the businesses that invest here.
In Lincoln County, you don’t just find workers. You find a talent strategy built for your business.
Here, education and industry work hand-in-hand to build the talent you need. With forward-thinking programs and a graduation rate well above the state average, Lincoln County equips students with the skills, certifications, and experiences that align with your workforce needs.
Our high schools offer cutting-edge Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and operate the Lincoln County School of Technology, where students gain hands-on training in:
What sets us apart is how early and how deeply we engage students in career pathways. Through partnerships with the Industrial Managers Association (IMA), students begin exploring careers as early as kindergarten, with direct exposure to local employers like you. By high school, they’re enrolled in pre-apprenticeship programs and technical training that prepare them for real-world roles.
Upon graduation, many move directly into apprenticeships, earning a journeyman’s certificate and associate degree—all while gaining the skills your business needs to thrive.
In Lincoln County, you’re not just hiring talent. You’re helping shape it.
You are going to need a steady pipeline of skilled workers who are ready to contribute on day one. In Lincoln County, we’ve built a workforce development system that delivers just that—through a strong, strategic partnership with nearby Gaston College.
Many of our high school graduates continue their education at Gaston College, earning industry-recognized certificates and two-year degrees in one of more than 100 programs—all designed with local business needs in mind. From advanced manufacturing to mechatronics and beyond, students are gaining the skills that matter most to employers like you.
At the heart of this effort is the Gaston College Center for Advanced Manufacturing—a state-of-the-art facility that has become a true workforce development powerhouse. Here, your future employees receive hands-on training in the technologies and processes that keep your business competitive.
As an industry in Lincoln County, workforce development isn’t an afterthought—it’s a long-term strategy. We’re continuously investing in education, training, and employer partnerships to ensure you always have access to the talent you need to grow.
In today’s tight labor market, developing a reliable pipeline of skilled workers isn’t optional—it’s essential. In Lincoln County, apprenticeship programs like Apprenticeship 321 (through Gaston College) and Apprenticeship 2000 (through Central Piedmont Community College) give your business a proven, cost-effective way to grow talent from the ground up.
Here’s how your business benefits:
By participating in an apprenticeship program, you’re not just filling jobs—you’re shaping a skilled, loyal workforce that understands your business from the ground up.
As a new or expanding business, you need a workforce solution that’s tailored to your specific goals from day one. In Lincoln County, you’ll find exactly that through North Carolina’s Customized Training Program, delivered locally by Gaston College.
This impactful program is designed to support job growth, boost productivity, and accelerate technology adoption—all by aligning training directly with your business needs. Gaston College’s workforce experts partner closely with employers to create custom training plans that equip employees with the skills required to succeed in your operation. Customized training in Lincoln County means your workforce starts strong and stays ahead—because every program is built around your specific business goals, from skills to technology to long-term growth.
Lincoln County leads the region in leveraging this resource, representing the largest share of activity across Gaston College’s two-county service area. It’s no surprise, then, that Gaston College delivers the second largest customized training program in the entire state thanks in large part to the strong industrial partnerships right here in Lincoln County.
When you invest here, you’re not just gaining access to talent. You’re gaining a strategic partner in building it.
No matter your business size or industry, your success depends on a skilled workforce. NCWorks Business Services is here to help—offering free, customized talent management support, training connections, and workforce solutions. As local experts, they understand your regional needs and are committed to helping your business thrive in North Carolina.
Testimonials
Nick, Maintenance
Tenowo
David Lee, Location Director
Robert Bosch Tool Corporation
David Lee, Location Director
Robert Bosch Tool Corporation
Dr. Cale Sain, CTE Director
Lincoln County Schools
Dr. Cale Sain, CTE Director
Lincoln County Schools
Kaila Gieser, Logistics Planner / Scheduler
Kaila Gieser, Logistics Planner / Scheduler
Michael Geis, Vice President of Information Services / Materials / Logistics
Blum Incorporated
Michael Geis, Vice President of Information Services / Materials / Logistics
Blum Incorporated
Margarita Bowe, Finance & Controlling Analyst
Margarita Bowe, Finance & Controlling Analyst
Dustin Hawn, Logistics Material Flow Analyst
Dustin Hawn, Logistics Material Flow Analyst
Hailey, Mechatronics Apprentice
Hailey, Mechatronics Apprentice
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