CFCC Receives $75,000 Lumina Foundation and Achieving the Dream Grant

Wilmington, NC – Cape Fear Community College was selected as one of 20 community colleges in the nation to receive a Lumina Foundation and Achieving the Dream grant to boost enrollment of adult students of color.

Through the Prioritizing Adult Community College Enrollment (PACCE) grant, the College plans to implement strategies to increase enrollment for adult learners in its Truck Driver Training program. Specific emphasis will be placed on partnerships with local Black, Hispanic, Latino, and Native American community organizations and targeted outreach campaigns.

“Employers demand a skilled workforce,” said CFCC vice president of economic and workforce development, John Downing. “You can see this now, especially in light of the supply chain crisis. The nationwide workforce shortages call for a greater emphasis on recruiting students who are ready and eager to enter or re-enter the workforce.”

“This initiative will help us identify barriers adult students face. In addition, it will help us build a workforce pipeline, offer students affordable training for a well-paying career, and help them achieve a greater quality of life,” said Downing.

“As open-access institutions, our community colleges are pivotal to helping increase the enrollment, re-enrollment, and success of adult learners,” said Dr. Monica Parrish Trent, ATD vice president, Network Engagement. “Cape Fear Community College shows that they have a deep understanding of the needs of adult students and include racial equity as an explicit goal. This direct support will help them accelerate, scale, and sustain their efforts.”

“Through the PACCE grant and support from Lumina Foundation and Achieving the Dream, CFCC can optimize its efforts to reach adult learners where they are and help them achieve their career goals,” said CFCC President Jim Morton. “We are grateful for this investment and look forward to putting the funds to use. CFCC faculty and staff are dedicated to providing beneficial opportunities that promote the success and well-being of our community.”

Learn more about the CFCC’s Truck Driver Training program and its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion .

Lumina Foundation

Lumina Foundation is an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis that is committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. We envision a system that is easy to navigate, delivers fair results, and meets the nation’s need for talent through a broad range of credentials. Our goal is to prepare people for informed citizenship and for success in a global economy.

Achieving the Dream

Achieving the Dream, the national, nonprofit leader in championing evidence-based institutional improvement, was conceived as an initiative in 2004 by Lumina Foundation and seven founding partner organizations that are leaders in the higher education field.

Cape Fear Community College

For over 60 years, Cape Fear Community College has served the citizens of New Hanover and Pender Counties with accessible, high-quality education, workforce training opportunities, and specialized services and support. With more than 20,000 students annually, Cape Fear Community College is the fifth largest community college in North Carolina and a significant economic development partner in Southeastern NC. The College has four locations: Wilmington, Castle Hayne, Burgaw, and Surf City.