RALEIGH, N.C. (Oct. 21, 2026) – Wake Tech joined community partners Wednesday to celebrate the groundbreaking of an affordable housing community adjacent to the college's Public Safety Education Campus, connecting residents, including Wake Tech students, with greater access to education, careers and economic opportunity.

Chapanoke, a planned 200-home community at 326 Chapanoke Road in Raleigh, is a nearly $58 million development being built on land donated by Wake Tech. The community will serve households earning between 30% and 70% of the area median income and is expected to be completed in 2028. It will include 66 one-bedroom, 86 two-bedroom and 48 three-bedroom apartments. Chapanoke is also near the planned Southern Wake Bus Rapid Transit corridor, further connecting residents to education, employment and other opportunities.

At least 30% of the homes will be reserved for eligible low- and moderate-income Wake Tech students who meet applicable eligibility requirements. The college has a particular interest in supporting students who have experienced foster care and may be navigating higher education and adulthood without a reliable family safety net.

Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls said the project reflects the college's commitment to address basic needs that can stand in the way of a student's education.

"Students need stability at home to be successful in the classroom," Ralls said. "When students have access to necessities such as affordable housing, they are better positioned to complete their education, enter a career and build a better future for themselves and their families. Wake Tech is proud that the land we contributed is helping turn that vision into a reality."

The groundbreaking marks a significant milestone in an effort that began more than five years ago. Wake Tech's Board of Trustees unanimously approved donating the property to Wake County in June 2021, and the Wake County Board of Commissioners accepted the donation two months later. The college saw the land as an opportunity to help address housing insecurity while supporting students and the broader community.

Housing is one of several basic-needs challenges Wake Tech has worked to address for students. The college provides donor-supported resources to help students facing food, transportation and other financial challenges remain enrolled and continue working toward their educational goals.

The Chapanoke development is being led by Harmony Housing Affordable Development Inc., Gilbane Development and F7 International Development, which together comprise Raleigh Community Partners LLC. The project is a collaboration of public, community and financing partners, including the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, the City of Raleigh and Wake County.

"Wake County is growing by 66 people a day, and we want our residents to have access to places like this, where they can rest, cook, laugh and spend time with their loved ones without struggling to make ends meet," said Don Mial, chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. "Projects like Chapanoke are vital to our community. People deserve access to safe, comfortable, affordable housing near important resources like education and transportation. This will be a community where residents can connect with all that Wake County has to offer."

Wake Tech is North Carolina's largest community college, serving more than 76,000 adults annually across nine campuses and training sites throughout Wake County, as well as through a comprehensive array of online learning options. The college employs more than 3,100 faculty and staff members dedicated to student success, workforce development and strengthening the talent pipeline for employers across the region. The college offers more than 250 associate degrees, diplomas and certificates that prepare students for university transfer or immediate employment, along with short-term workforce training, public safety education and training, customized corporate training, small-business support and adult education programs.