December 15, 2025

202: How Community Colleges Power Statewide Economic Development with John Loyack

26 minutes

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with John Loyack of the North Carolina Community College System to unpack what “workforce development” looks like when you’re the person who gets the call the day after the ribbon cutting asking where the next 500–5,000 workers will come from—and how North Carolina answers that question through four major tools: NC Edge customized training, ApprenticeshipNC, the Bio Network (now stretching from life sciences into food/beverage and natural products), and a small business center network embedded across 58 community colleges, all while pushing for tighter collaboration so employers experience one connected system instead of disconnected silos.

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10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

Treat workforce development as core infrastructure, not a support function.

Engage community colleges early, not after a project announcement.

Promote customized training programs aggressively to prospects and existing employers.

Use pre-hire assessments to reduce employer risk on major projects.

Encourage employers, even competitors, to collaborate on shared talent needs.

Leverage apprenticeship programs beyond manufacturing into healthcare, construction, and trades.

Think regionally, not jurisdiction by jurisdiction, when building talent pipelines.

Repurpose successful training models across industries where skills overlap.

Break down silos between workforce, small business, and economic development teams.

Communicate these resources constantly because most businesses do not know they exist.

Special Guest: John Loyack.