A new SCC Hoke County trades building will bring hands-on workforce training closer to Raeford residents and area employers. The Sandhills Community College Board of Trustees voted unanimously August 4 to lease the facility at 2550 Aberdeen Road, just west of Raeford.
The first programs planned for the site are Small Engine Repair and Electrical Level 1. The college expects the courses to begin around September 14, 2026, although final class and registration details have not yet been released.
SCC Hoke County Trades Building Responds to Workforce Demand
College leaders said the expansion grew from conversations with local businesses, schools and community leaders about the demand for skilled workers. The goal is to help Hoke County residents gain new skills or improve existing ones while preparing for jobs close to home.
Sandhills Community College President Alexander “Sandy” Stewart said the building is well suited for the hands-on instruction required in small-engine repair and electrical work. The college expects the new location to help create a more direct connection between training and the positions employers are trying to fill.
The SCC Hoke County trades building will operate as an extension of the college’s Hoke Center at 1110 East Central Avenue. That campus is also home to SandHoke Early College High School.
Small-Engine and Electrical Courses Planned First
Students in Small Engine Repair will learn how to disassemble, inspect, clean and repair small engines. Those skills can support work involving lawn equipment, outdoor power equipment and other machinery commonly serviced by small-engine mechanics.
Electrical Level 1 will introduce students to electrical safety, circuits, residential electrical service and other fundamentals of the trade. The program will combine classroom instruction with hands-on practice.
The college also said electrical students will have an opportunity to earn nationally recognized credentials sought by employers. That can give participants a useful starting point for entering the field or continuing into more advanced training.
More Skilled-Trades Programs Could Follow
The college expects to add welding and HVAC classes at the SCC Hoke County trades building in the future. Dates for those programs have not been announced.
For Hoke County, the expansion adds another local option for career training without requiring students to travel to the main Sandhills Community College campus in Pinehurst. It may also help businesses build a stronger pipeline of trained workers from within the community.
The location is designed around practical instruction, allowing students to learn with the tools, equipment and safety practices used in the trades.
Registration information for the first two courses will be announced through the Sandhills Community College website and its media channels. Prospective students should watch for details about schedules, eligibility, costs and enrollment before the anticipated September start.
The SCC Hoke County trades building represents a practical investment in local workers and the employers who need them. Star 102.5 will share registration details when they become available. Keeping you connected to the Sandhills and beyond.
Sources: Official announcement from Sandhills Community College, with additional reporting from the Sandhills Sentinel.
