For Immediate Release
May 20, 2022

RALEIGH – The N.C. State Board of Community Colleges (NCSBCC) in its planned meeting today approved an allocation of up to $11.6 million from the State Fiscal Recovery Funds to establish a temporary program to expand apprenticeship opportunities for high school and non-high school apprentices. The program will serve students ages 16 to 25. Funding goals are to increase the percentage of North Carolinians, particularly within underserved populations, who are pursuing and easily accessing education or training through North Carolina’s Great 58 community colleges and to ensure the educational pipeline prepares a workforce that possesses the interest, knowledge, skills, and abilities to meet the needs of employers, now and into the future. Following North Carolina’s 2020 Development Tier Designation, 50 of the 58 colleges, serving Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties, are eligible.

The funding will provide opportunities for small businesses located in Tier 1 and 2 counties to build talent pipelines by bringing on new apprentices between the ages of 16 and 25 in high demand trades or careers while working with 50 of the Great 58 community colleges to provide related classroom instruction. Employers with qualifying apprentices will receive up to $2,000 per apprentice for onboarding and training, plus a 50% salary reimbursement on wages up to $15 per hour for non-high school students and $14 per hour for high school students. In addition, colleges will receive up to $2,500 per apprentice for tuition, books, fees, and supplies. The target date on the release of funds is July 1, 2022. Funds are available through Dec. 31, 2024, until expended. Registered Apprenticeships have expanded statewide since joining the N.C. Community College System (NCCCS) in 2017.