Charlotte Launches 'Skilled to Build' Workforce Initiative as City Council Prepares $405 Million Bond Referendums for Transit and Housing

Charlotte Launches 'Skilled to Build' to Power $25 Billion Infrastructure Pipeline

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Positioned to execute generational transportation expansions financed by regional transit funding, the City of Charlotte officially launched the 'Skilled to Build' workforce development initiative on September 22, 2026. The targeted program equips local small businesses, minority contractors, and vocational trade workers with specialized certifications and capacity to participate in over $25 billion in planned transit, rail, and roadway projects.

City leaders emphasized that investing directly in homegrown labor guarantees that tax dollars generate broad local economic prosperity. The curriculum offers tailored training in civil engineering specifications, clean-energy transit fleet maintenance, and large-scale public contract compliance.

$405 Million Bond Referendum Features $280M for Transportation and $125M for Housing

In municipal finance, the Charlotte City Council finalized educational campaigns and implementation policies for the upcoming $405 million General Obligation Bond package on the November ballot. The referendum includes $280 million in Transportation Bonds to construct multi-modal corridors, pedestrian greenways, and high-frequency bus lane enhancements.

The ballot also features $125 million in Affordable Housing Bonds administered by the Housing Trust Fund. The council's Housing Committee updated project evaluation criteria to prioritize affordable housing developments constructed within walking distance of high-ridership transit arteries and future passenger rail stations.

CATS Prepares Governance Transition to Metropolitan Public Transit Authority

Concurrently, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) initiated recruitment for two rider-centric civic bodies: the Mobility Access Committee (MAC) and the Transit Riders Advisory Committee (TRAC). The new panels ensure passenger representation as transit governance transitions to the independent Metropolitan Public Transit Authority (MPTA), solidifying regional coordination across Mecklenburg, Iredell, and Union counties.