Caterpillar Commits $10 Million to North Carolina Manufacturing Talent

The funding targets the Sanford region, where Caterpillar plans to bolster training pipelines in partnership with the Central Carolina Community College and the Sanford Area Growth Alliance. By expanding hands-on manufacturing pathways, the program seeks to connect local students and workers with career opportunities in the company’s rapidly growing compact equipment sector. This move aligns with a broader $1 billion capital expansion in the state, which includes a new manufacturing facility designed to boost production of track loaders and telehandlers.

Christy Pambianchi, Caterpillar’s chief human resources officer, emphasized that the investment is intended to ensure the industry maintains a sustainable talent supply. North Carolina currently hosts the largest manufacturing workforce in the Southeast, supported by Caterpillar’s existing network of 3,600 employees and 325 regional suppliers. Governor Josh Stein noted that the collaboration reinforces the state’s position as a primary hub for advanced manufacturing. The initiative follows similar workforce development rollouts in Indiana, Texas, Illinois, and Arkansas.