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HB 670

Workforce Credential Grant Program/Career and College Pathways.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Eric Ager and 12 co-sponsors

Creates a grant program for community colleges to fund cross‑sector, locally designed workforce and education innovations, up to $200,000 per college.

Reptd Fav
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Bill Summary · HB 670

HB 670 — Career and College Pathways / Workforce Credential Grant Program (NC)

Status: Reported Favorably (Reptd Fav)
Introduced: Feb 27, 2025 — Effective date: July 1, 2025

Purpose / Intent

Establishes the Career and College Pathways Innovation Challenge Grant Program to boost postsecondary enrollment and completion, align education and training with labor‑market needs, and close opportunity gaps by funding local and regional cross‑sector innovations led by community colleges.

Key provisions

  • Program established (new Article in Chapter 115D). The State Board of Community Colleges administers the program and adopts rules and policies.
  • Eligible applicants: participating community colleges that form local/regional partnerships representing cross‑sector collaborations (K‑12, UNC and community college systems, local governments, community organizations, employers, independent colleges, etc.). Program design is developed in consultation with the Division of Workforce Solutions, community colleges, UNC System, independent colleges, and MyFutureNC.
  • Grant purposes: planning/piloting innovative initiatives to raise attainment and reduce gaps; engaging community organizations; expanding work‑based learning; providing financial supports beyond tuition (e.g., living expenses, wraparound services); and leveraging local matching funds.
  • Grant size: awards up to the lesser of the project’s actual cost or $200,000 per participating community college.
  • Distribution rule: if available appropriations are insufficient to fund all approved awards, each award is proportionally reduced so all approved applicants receive funding.
  • Administrative/marketing limits: up to 4% of appropriated funds can be used for administration by the Community Colleges System Office; up to 10% may be used for marketing and communications (including contracting with non‑state entities).
  • Reporting: annual report due July 15 to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee (prepared by the State Board in collaboration with the Dept. of Commerce) including total dollars awarded, number of participating colleges, and partnership progress on metrics (high‑school graduation, postsecondary enrollment/completion, job growth, labor market alignment) with data disaggregated by income, race, ethnicity, and other demographics where available.

Targeted/fiscal provisions

  • Temporary targeted allocation: For FY 2025–26 and FY 2026–27 the State Board must allocate a total of $2,000,000 to participating community colleges located in a specified list of counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians affected by Hurricane Helene. If less than $2M is awarded in those areas, remaining funds may be used elsewhere.
  • Appropriation: $5,000,000 in recurring General Fund dollars is appropriated to the Community Colleges System Office for FY 2025–26 to implement the act.
  • Grant caps and program spending are subject to the availability of funds; applicants may be required to provide local matching funds.

Who is affected

  • North Carolina community colleges and their local/regional partners (K‑12 LEAs, employers, community organizations, universities, workforce agencies).
  • Students: recent high‑school graduates and adults returning to education, particularly those in communities with opportunity gaps and hurricane‑impacted areas.
  • Employers and local labor markets benefit from strengthened alignment between training and workforce needs.

Timeline & administrative notes

  • Effective July 1, 2025.
  • State Board implements competitive grant process, issues awards (max $200,000 each), monitors spending, and submits yearly performance reports to the legislature.
  • Administrative (4%) and marketing (10%) spend caps apply to annual appropriations.

For further review: the bill text contains a comprehensive list of counties targeted for the initial $2M allocation and the statutory language detailing eligible uses and reporting requirements.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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