American employers are facing two formidable challenges: not enough workers in general and not enough skilled workes. Smart organizations are already strategizing to develop reliable worker-supply chains to provide workers with the skills necessary to keep the organizations competitive.

According to the 2004 ASTD (American Society for Training and Development) survey, the "US Norm" for training expenditures per employee increased from $645 in 1999 to $820 in 2004. This represents a 27% growth rate. The same survey also identified Best Learning Organizations from responding companies based on established criteria. In addition to spending more per employee than the norm, Best Learning Organizations outperform the norm in critical ROI criteria like employee satisfaction and retention, revenue growth and profitability.

Based on these factors, it becomes clear that continual training of employees is critical to the success of any organization. The question then becomes whether to conduct this training internally or to outsource all or a part of the training. The answer is "it depends". Factors like the size of your organization, training topics, and cost must all be considered in determining if an internal or external training provider makes the most sense. One interesting note based on the ASTD survey reveals that among U.S. companies, the percentage of training being delivered by external providers is increasing significantly and has risen from 19% to almost 30% in the last 5 years.

At Central Piedmont Community College, Education and Training are our core competencies. Take a moment to visit our TrainingM atrix to view the wide variety of courses currently available. Whether you plan to conduct all or a portion of your training externally, contact one of our Corporate Training Advisors at 704.330.4660 to find out how CPCC can help you determine the best training approach for your organization.

The Incumbent Workforce Development Grant provides funding to established North Carolina businesses to provide educational and skills training for current workers. It is designed to provide workers with marketable skills that are transferable within the local economy and that contribute to their long-term economic and career goals. Companies may be awarded up to $37,500 in the first year, and are eligible to apply for a lifetime maximum of $50,000. Additional information and guidelines may be found on the following web site.