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Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Re-ref Com On Appropriations/Base Budget2025-03-06

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language Summary

This bill establishes the NCSTARS Grant Program, which provides up to $500,000 per year to three community colleges that partner with public schools and local employers to create work-based learning programs in apprenticeships and preapprenticeships for students 16 and older. The program runs from 2026-2029 with $4.75 million in state funding and requires participants to secure local matching funds.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue this bill addresses North Carolina's workforce shortage by creating pathways for students to gain practical skills through apprenticeships and preapprenticeship programs.
• •The program encourages collaboration between education, government, and business while offering students stipends and travel support, potentially making career training more accessible.
• •It is modeled after the successful FLEET program in Surry-Yadkin Works and requires communities to develop sustainability plans, suggesting long-term commitment to workforce development.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may contend that limiting the program to only three community colleges means most regions lack access, raising equity concerns about which students benefit.
• •The requirement for local matching funds ($1 for every $3 state dollars) could burden communities with fewer resources, and the three-year funding limit may create instability if communities cannot sustain programs afterward despite sustainability plan requirements.
• •Some may question whether $4.75 million is sufficient to meaningfully address statewide workforce needs.