At a recent graduation event for the Catawba Valley Community College Furniture Academy, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and First Lady Anna Stein joined Secretary of Adult Correction Leslie Dismukes in acknowledging the success of reentry initiatives. This program, a collaborative effort between educational institutions, the state's Department of Adult Correction, correctional facilities, and local furniture companies, equips students with the skills required for employment in the state's historic furniture industry. Governor Stein, in his remarks, emphasized the mutual benefits of helping individuals reach their potential and contribute fully to the economy.
"Programs like the Catawba Furniture Academy give people employable skills and real opportunities, and I applaud Warden Maynor and Catawba Valley Community College for their work to make this possible," Anna Stein told the Governor's office. Leslie Dismukes echoed these sentiments, noting how such collaborations create safer communities through career pathways.
During the ceremony, Governor Stein also announced the opening of a new furniture production facility by Coley Home in Catawba County, which is expected to create 45 jobs and represent a $9 million investment. This development underscores North Carolina's ongoing commitment to bolstering its furniture manufacturing industry, particularly in regions like High Point, known as the "Furniture Capital of the World," as mentioned on the official website.
The governor’s proposed 2025–2027 budget prioritizes education programs for incarcerated individuals and includes pay increases for correctional officers to help address staffing shortages. The proposal also seeks to improve reentry outcomes by connecting people leaving prison with healthcare services, including Medicaid. In a recently released year-end report, the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships identified training programs for formerly incarcerated individuals as a key strategic priority.
With about 94% of incarcerated individuals eventually eligible for release, programs such as the Catawba Furniture Academy are being cited as potential models for workforce development efforts tied to criminal justice reform.
