RALEIGH, N.C. – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has selected the NC Chamber Foundation and the NC Community College System to launch a Career Readiness Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) Academy® in North Carolina.

With support from the Lumina Foundation, the Academy will train approximately 40 individuals from the North Carolina Community College System and the state’s business and health care communities on the TPM framework.

The Career Readiness TPM Academy, which will run from August to December, will equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to create and sustain talent supply chain solutions and enhance workforce development programs. Academy participants will also receive training to leverage the TPM framework in generating better employment outcomes for adult students of color and other opportunity populations.

“TPM is a nationally recognized program that has helped businesses across sectors transform workforce pipelines,” said Meredith Archie, president of the NC Chamber Foundation. “We are thrilled to continue expanding the program’s footprint in North Carolina with a specific focus on building programs that will reach opportunity populations.”

The proven TPM framework was developed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to advance a demand-driven, employer-led approach to close the people and skills gap by building pipelines of talent aligned to dynamic business needs.

“This is an important step in our collective work to create a demand-driven workforce system in North Carolina,” said Dr. Jeff Cox, president of the NC Community College System. “North Carolina’s community colleges play a critical role in bolstering the state’s workforce, and this partnership further affirms our commitment to advancing North Carolina’s Talent Pipeline Management strategy.”

“TPM helps align community college programming with employer needs, ensuring students receive education and training for a seamless transition into the workforce and delivering the talent employers need,” said Jaimie Francis, vice president of policy and programs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “We are excited to select the NC Chamber Foundation and NC Community College System to scale these efforts in North Carolina.”

The TPM Academy builds on the work of the NC Health Talent Alliance, the landmark public-private partnership announced last year between the NC Chamber Foundation and the NC Center on the Workforce for Health, which is utilizing the TPM framework to tackle the state’s health care workforce shortages.

By the end of 2024, North Carolina is expected to have the largest TPM movement in the country.