Page 3 - NCBWJourney.15

rom its inception, the NCBW grew as a facilitator and communicator. 3
We are always working hand-in-hand with industry to make sure work-

Fforce demands are quickly identified and addressed. Many partner-
ships, collaborative agreements, networks, advisory boards, initiatives, annual events
and other grant outcomes were formed and remain actively underway.
Partnerships, people working together to grow a region’s biotechnology industry
cluster, are key. Workforce development must combine worlds of business, educa-
tion, community, economic development, and government. No one can be left out.
Advisory boards of local, private-public partnerships and community groups work
to coordinate federal and state resources and help the workforce develop.
The NCBW succeeded in resolving
crucial workforce issues - especially
Russ Read, executive with industry-validated skill standards -
director of the National by embracing all education, employer
Center for the Biotech- and economic development stakehold-
nology Workforce ers, continuing its initial 2004 strategy.

“The NCBW mandate creates
a lot of synergy - much more is
accomplished through its part-
nerships than can be realized
individually.”

Dr. Gary Green
President of Forsyth Tech

Forsyth Tech Technology building

The Journey of the National Center for the Biotechnology Workforce

Biosciences keep creating new ways to help fight Industry partners were expressing difficulties finding
disease, clean the environment, increase food workers with specific skills in high-tech manufacturing
production, save energy and improve lives around processes, such as quality control, or validation. Plus, for
the world. safety, technicians must be able to follow all Food and
Drug Administration regulations - standard laboratory
Breakthrough bio-pharmaceuticals promise hope to and aseptic practices - always strictly observed.
millions. New bio-engineered processes for innovative
industrial products, such as biodegradable plastics or In response, the President’s High-Growth Job Train-
innovative sources for biofuels, create new jobs. ing Initiative announced a $5 million grant for Forsyth
Technical Community College, on June 28, 2004, in
Once approved, demand for these needed products partnership with four other community colleges around
often trigger massive new manufacturing operations. the nation, to develop the National Center for the Bio-
Industry leaders involved in developing North Caroli- technology Workforce across a three year period (2004-
na’s biotechnology were being faced with more growing 2007). These colleges were designated Centers of Exper-
needs for skilled workers. tise.

Dr. Gary Green, President of Forsyth Tech, and oth- In 2008, the National Center for the Biotechnology
ers, understood that community colleges need constant Workforce (NCBW) became an affiliate of the North
development in order to respond to biotech’s changing Carolina BioNetwork. “The NCBW expands BioNetwork
demands for technician level workers. They knew peo- effectiveness by creating out-of-state relationships and
ple had to get their hands on the exact equipment for partnerships that grow expertise,” said Dr. Green.
training in the emerging, specialized processes. In 2003
Golden LEAF awarded money for buildings and start-up (continued on next page)
of biotech activities.