Charlotte Unveils 'Skilled to Build' Transit Workforce Program as Food Lion Opens Mintworth Supermarket

City Launches 'Skilled to Build' Initiative to Train Contractors for Major Transit Projects

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Positioned to construct generational mass transit and multimodal roadway links, the City of Charlotte officially unveiled its comprehensive 'Skilled to Build' workforce program in October 2026. Designed to expand local economic opportunity, the municipal program provides small, minority-owned, and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs) with free construction trade training, bonding assistance, safety certifications, and procurement roadmaps for major transportation projects.

The curriculum prepares regional contractors to bid on upcoming capital contracts managed by the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) and the Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT), including rail maintenance facilities, pedestrian bridge networks, and multimodal transit corridors. City leaders emphasized that keeping capital dollars circulating within Mecklenburg County creates sustainable local careers and strengthens local construction capacity.

Food Lion Expands Neighborhood Grocery Access at Mintworth Commons Shopping Center

In commercial retail growth, regional grocer Food Lion announced the grand opening of its newest modern supermarket on October 7, 2026, anchoring the Mintworth Commons shopping center along the eastern commercial corridor. The 33,000-square-foot store introduces expanded fresh organic produce, an on-site bakery and deli, e-commerce curbside pickup lanes, and eco-friendly refrigeration systems.

The retail investment delivers over 75 permanent jobs and significantly expands fresh food access for growing suburban residential communities, eliminating long commutes to surrounding grocery centers.

Uptown Public Safety Collaborations and Community Youth Engagement Hubs

Meanwhile, the Charlotte City Council finalized administrative coordination with community nonprofits and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) for the November 1 kickoff of its 10-month pilot curfew ordinance, pairing evening safety boundaries in Uptown entertainment hubs with $1.5 million in expanded youth recreation centers and career mentoring hubs.

Mayor Vi Lyles noted that coupling workforce development in transit construction with neighborhood retail access and proactive youth support establishes an enduring foundation for Charlotte’s thriving future.