Workforce Development Assistance

Durham and the Triangle have a growing, well trained and dynamic workforce capable of propelling your business to higher levels of success.

The Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce is a long-time champion and supporter of the workforce development system and is committed to workforce excellence.  The Chamber offers services to assist companies in recruitment and retention.  It works to link business with appropriate agencies, and hosts workforce development forums with presentations by recognized experts.

The Chamber takes special pride in directly supporting two Workforce Development programs that assist individuals with employment barriers, namely: the Re-entry Program and the Work First program.  The Re-entry Program is in partnership with Durham County’s Criminal Justice Resource Center.  It provides job readiness training and job referral and placement assistance to court mandated ex-offenders.  The Work First program is a partnership with the Durham County Department of Social Services.  It provides job referral assistance to Welfare recipients.

Additionally, the local Durham Workforce Development Board, which is supported by the federal Workforce Investment Act, provides workforce services based upon a locally adopted workforce development plan.  The Durham Workforce Development Board is a public/private sector effort, supported by the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce to collaboratively better prepare our workforce for the changing needs of industry.

Durham provides excellent educational options at all levels: the recognized quality of Durham Public Schools and charter schools, highly respected private schools, and the North Carolina School of Science and Math, located in Durham, that offers a challenging curriculum for high school juniors and seniors from all over the state.  Durham also offers outstanding technical, continuing education and college transfer programs through Durham Technical Community College.  Additionally, there are two universities and two colleges in Durham County, namely: Duke University, North Carolina Central University (apart of the 16 member University of North Carolina system), Mount Olive College and Pfeiffer University at the Triangle.  The educational resources available in Durham are oriented to provide businesses with the workforce and training resources that they need to successfully compete on a global level.