RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC (December 13, 2022) – Durham Technical Community College in partnership with Research Triangle Foundation of NC announced the opening of a new campus location focused on customized industry training in Research Triangle Park (RTP). Located at the Frontier RTP 600 Building near the Hub RTP development, the site houses the leadership of the College’s Center for Workforce Engagement and training space for the College’s work with industry partners.
This partnership with the Research Triangle Foundation positions Durham Tech in the center of RTP, with the Park’s 375 established companies and a growing network of 150 emerging startups. The Center’s offices and training location sit next to the highly anticipated downtown district, Hub RTP.
“Our partnership with the RTP Foundation will allow Durham Tech to better serve the companies and employees across the Research Triangle,” said J.B. Buxton, President of Durham Tech. “It positions the College at the epicenter of RTP’s vibrant future.”
Durham Tech’s Center for Workforce Engagement is led by Executive Director, Jerry Jones, who led the creation of the Center after joining the College in January of 2022. In addition to working with new and emerging businesses on customized training needs through Corporate Services, the Center also includes Career Services, Human Resources Development, Work-Based Education and Apprenticeships, and the Small Business Center.
“Our presence at RTP allows Durham Tech’s Center for Workforce Engagement to be more strategic in how we collaborate with our industry partners in addressing their workforce needs and increasing opportunities for our students,” said Jerry Jones. “We value our partnership with Research Triangle Foundation and look forward to a lasting relationship.”
Research Triangle Foundation is thrilled to continue RTP’s relationship with Durham Tech to sustain talent retention for RTP companies and mission-backed efforts to create positive impact for North Carolina residents.
“Since the founding of RTP, Research Triangle Foundation has served as stewards of the world’s oldest and largest research park. The founding principles of the Foundation are as relevant today as they were six decades ago. One of those principles is to promote cooperation between universities and industry.” says Ray Trapp, VP of Strategic Engagement, Research Triangle Foundation.
This partnership also deepens RTP’s roots in Durham County as over 70% of the Park’s 7,000 acres are located within [Durham] county lines.
“This partnership with Durham Tech represents that principle and furthermore serves as a value add to companies located within RTP to gain access to Durham Tech’s world-class workforce development and specialized training. We applaud President Buxton and the Durham Tech Board of Trustees as they continue to lead the way in assisting Durham County and RTP to educate a growing and more continually diverse workforce,” says Ray Trapp.
As RTP continues to thrive, the Foundation, with the guidance of its strategic engagement team, invests in programs that advance opportunities for the state’s existing and future workforce in alignment with the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
About Durham Tech:
Durham Technical Community College serves a diverse population of more than 18,000 students across seven campuses in Durham and Orange Counties and offers more than 100 technical and occupational programs leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate. Durham Tech is committed to providing current skills training, creating diverse talent pipelines for local industry, and increasing the overall economic mobility of Durham and Orange Counties.
About Research Triangle Foundation:
Since 1959, the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina has served Research Triangle Park (RTP) in its mission to facilitate collaboration among the region’s industries, academic institutions, and workforce to create economic impact for North Carolina. Situated centrally among Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, RTP makes up 7,000 acres, 60,000 employees, and over 375 companies and national labs. It is known as America’s largest research park.
Media Contact for Durham Tech
Desiree Patrick
Communications & Public Relations Coordinator
(919) 943-9593
Media Contact for RTF
Jan Mactal
Director of Marketing & Communications
(919) 522-1985