Governor Josh Stein visited Roanoke-Chowan Community College on October 20, 2026 to highlight a welding workforce program in Hertford County, the N.C. Department of Commerce announced. The Weld to Work Pipeline is backed by a $470,140 grant awarded in 2024 by the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, a federal-state partnership that funds economic development, infrastructure and workforce projects in distressed communities across seven southeastern states. The Commerce Department's Rural Economic Development Division manages North Carolina's participation. The grant provides tuition assistance and lets the college serve up to 150 welding students annually. Over two years, the project aims to enroll 300 students and help 270 graduates secure welding jobs, with training aligned to employer demand in northeastern North Carolina. Stein, who served as the SCRC States' Co-Chair from July 2025 through September 2026, framed the program as a way for residents to reach good-paying trade careers close to home. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said the goal is strengthening partnerships among employers and educational institutions to expand career pathways in rural counties. For prospective welders in Hertford, Bertie and neighboring counties, the practical effect is subsidized tuition and a defined pipeline from classroom to local hiring, rather than a generic training offer.