NORTH CAROLINA BUSINESS COMMITTEE

Federally funded work-based learning programs: building bright futures (bbf) is a pilot initiative designed to support and scale pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships in early childhood education throughout north carolina. Bbf offers technical assistance, financial support, and resources to pre-apprentices and apprentices, child care centers, school districts, community colleges, and other partners in a registered apprenticeship program through apprenticeshipnc. This pilot program aims to "fill in the gaps" where other financial resources can't, offer value-added professional development and community of practice opportunities, create a hub for early childhood apprenticeship resources, and gather best practices and lessons learned from participants to support a statewide playbook. Nc career launch is a four-year grant of four million from the us department of labor to develop and scale high school pre-apprenticeships. Sectors include advanced manufacturing, construction, early childhood education, energy, healthcare, hospitality, it, transportation, and utilities. The program will support completion stipends and wraparound services for students and program development and mentor stipends for employers. Nc techworks is a statewide initiative preparing high school students for careers in it and related fields through its tech team and digital ambassadors programs, offering paid work experience while supporting north carolina's technology and workforce needs. Steps4growth began in september of 2022, ncbce received grant funding through the usdoc via nc a&t state university as part of a comprehensive clean energy workforce development project. S4g will work with employers to train students and adults to fill well-paying jobs in energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean vehicles, and grid & resiliency.