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The Cannon Foundation, Inc. and the Charles A. Cannon Charitable Trust No. One have awarded Fayetteville Technical Community College Foundation $400,000 to purchase trucks and equipment for the new FTCC Supply Chain Transport Complex.

FTCC is developing the Supply Chain Transport Complex that will address the truck driver and diesel mechanic shortages in North Carolina and beyond. The complex will assist with meeting regional industry demands and respond to economic growth in the warehouse, distribution, manufacturing, and food processing sectors.

FTCC’s new facility will be home to the Fleet Maintenance Technician program and the Commercial Truck Driver’s License Program (CDL). It will include a 900’ x 600’ CDL training pad with shifting track and skid area, and a building with classrooms, restrooms, and offices. It will also include a two-bay garage for maintenance of vehicles. The approximate size of the classroom  building and garage is 5,000 square feet.

An overhead map with a rendering of plans for a truck driving training facility, retention pond and parking lot.

The Cannon Foundation was established in 1943 by Charles A. Cannon, President and CEO of Cannon Mills Company. The Cannon Foundation continues his philanthropic legacy by funding capital and equipment projects for organizations across Mr. Cannon’s home state of North Carolina. The Foundation supports private colleges, community colleges serving Tier 1 or 2 counties and small public colleges across North Carolina. Projects that construct or renovate buildings or building infrastructure are considered as well as training equipment.

FTCC is developing the Supply Chain Transport Complex that will address the truck driver and diesel mechanic shortages in North Carolina and beyond. The complex will assist with meeting regional industry demands and respond to economic growth in the warehouse, distribution, manufacturing, and food processing sectors.

FTCC’s new facility will be home to the Fleet Maintenance Technician program and the Commercial Truck Driver’s License Program (CDL). It will include a 900’ x 600’ CDL training pad with shifting track and skid area, and a building with classrooms, restrooms, and offices. It will also include a two-bay garage for maintenance of vehicles. The approximate size of the classroom  building and garage is 5,000 square feet.

FTCC’s Corporate and Continuing Education Division provides training to individuals seeking their Commercial Truck Driver’s License. The FTCC CDL Program is registered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and certified as a Training Provider. Through this program, students will have the option of pursuing two routes for licensing to include the Class “A” Tractor/Trailers and Class “B” Endorsement with Passenger.

Fayetteville Technical Community College is planning to collaborate with Bladen and Robeson Community Colleges to increase each college’s capacity to deliver the skilled workforce necessary to support local industry. Both FTCC and RCC currently have CDL programs with waiting lists that extend into 2024. The new complex will double the capacity for enrollment in the CDL programs.

Construction will soon begin on the FTCC Supply Chain Transport Complex which will be developed in Fayetteville on the College’s Western Campus on a 60-acre property which is accessible by Raeford Road/Hwy 401 with easy access to I-295 and I-95. The current CDL program is located on the Fayetteville Campus of FTCC and will be moved to the Western Campus once it is complete.