North Carolina Boosts Workforce Development with $660,000 in Employer Engagement Grants
In a strategic move to enhance workforce development, the North Carolina Department of Commerce has allocated $660,000 in grants to 13 local workforce development boards. Governor Josh Stein highlighted the initiative, reinforcing the state’s commitment to fostering job creation and economic growth.
Governor Josh Stein remarked, “As America’s top-ranked state for workforce development, North Carolina is partnering with employers to build opportunity for our people. This grant program is one way to help our local workforce partners serve more businesses, which will in turn help create good jobs for talented North Carolinians.”
The grants will empower workforce boards to implement innovative strategies to engage and collaborate with local businesses, particularly through work-based learning programs like apprenticeships. The approach will be tailored to meet the specific needs of different regions, aligning with the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships’ goal to involve 50,000 employers in developing the talent pipeline of North Carolina. Furthermore, the state’s “First in Opportunity” strategic economic development plan prioritizes expanding work-based learning through employer outreach and statewide coordination.
Lee Lilley, N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary, emphasized the synergy between workforce and economic development, stating, “These employer engagement grants will continue to foster that connection and strengthen our NCWorks partners’ capacity for delivering talent services to innovative companies.”
The following Workforce Development Boards (WDBs) have been awarded these grants:
| Workforce Development Board(s) | Counties Served | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Fear WDB | Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Pender | $50,000 |
| Capital Area WDB | Chatham, Johnston, Lee, Orange, Wake | $50,000 |
| Charlotte Works and Centralina WDB (regional partnership) | Anson, Cabarrus, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, Union | $125,000 |
| Eastern Carolina WDB | Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico, Wayne | $50,000 |
| Foothills WDB | Cleveland, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford | $50,000 |
| High Country WDB | Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey | $50,000 |
| Kerr-Tar WDB | Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance, Warren | $50,000 |
| Mid-Carolina WDB | Cumberland, Harnett, Montgomery, Moore, Sampson | $50,000 |
| Northeastern WDB | Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, Washington | $50,000 |
| Piedmont Triad Regional WDB | Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Yadkin | $50,000 |
| Rivers East WDB | Beaufort, Bertie, Hertford, Martin, Pitt | $50,000 |
| Turning Point WDB | Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton, Wilson | $35,000 |
How Employers Can Participate
Businesses interested in partnering with the workforce system can express their interest through a form available at commerce.nc.gov/employers. This form facilitates communication between businesses and state and local partners, helping them understand the specific needs and challenges of the business. Subsequently, workforce partners can engage with companies to link them with relevant employment and training services. Alternatively, employers can contact a local Workforce Development Board or visit an NCWorks Career Center through NCWorks.gov.
This program is funded entirely by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I, supported by the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor, with a total award of $62,285,759 to North Carolina.
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