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In 2004 U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced a $5 million grant to Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, partnering with four other community colleges around the nation, to establish a National Center for the Biotechnology Workforce. This national effort was developed under the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative to address workforce challenges facing the biotech industry.

Forsyth Technical Community College is preparing students to work in this emerging biotechnology field and helping to provide career opportunities with its two-year associate in applied science degree program in biotechnology. Many of the courses in the program are offered both day and evening.

In addition, Forsyth Tech is constructing a new Technology/Student Services building that will include approximately 17,000 square feet for biotechnology instruction. Forsyth Tech Biotechnology program instructors have extensive experience in microbiology, molecular genetics, cell/tissue culture,
biochemistry, analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, applied chemical processes, and laboratory techniques.

Forsyth Tech's biotechnology program prepares individuals to become the highly-skilled technicians needed to support the growing medical, life
science, and pharmaceutical research and development efforts in this area.

With an increasing demand of 10-15% annually within the Piedmont Triad, the employment opportunities for biotechnology graduates are numerous. In the year 2022, about 125,000 North Carolinians will work in biotechnology.

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