What is the process for requesting state set-aside funds for NC Career Launch?

Local Workforce Development Board Directors will submit a “Form of Request for Funding” to Shannon Jones-Hines via email at Shannon.jones-hines@commerce.nc.gov. This form can be accessed on the Department of Commerce website or by clicking on the attachment link “Grant Funding Request Form” on Operational Guidance| OG 04-2026, Change 1: NC Career Launch Youth Apprenticeship Grant.

How will data be recorded in NCWorks?

Local workforce boards will be required to enroll NC Career Launch participants into Wagner-Peyser using a special indicator and into an NC Career Launch Agency Defined Program. Boards can choose to co-enroll in WIOA local formula funds, so that they are in local performance if the individual meets eligibility requirements.  Specific guidelines are available on the Staff Online Resources page in NCWorks Online.

What criteria for In-School youth eligibility has been waived for NC Career Launch participants?

NC Career Launch participants are no longer required to be eligible for WIOA. If the Local Workforce Board decides to screen NC Career Launch program participants for WIOA eligibility as a best practice, that is allowable. 

Will NC Career Launch activity count towards the 6% Pre-Apprenticeship/Reg. Apprenticeship and 20% WBL performance outcomes for ISY/OSY programs? 

State set-aside funds can count towards the 6% Pre-Apprenticeship/Registered Apprenticeship activity goal. NC Career Launch activity doesn’t count towards the requirement to spend 20% of formula funds on WBL performance.  

Do the State Set-Aside funds increase FY 26 WIOA funding, therefore increasing the amount of each Local Workforce Area’s WIOA funding requirement of 6% being spent towards pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship activity? 

State set-aside funds will not increase the amount of funding that local workforce boards are required to spend towards the 6% pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship activity.

If a youth is currently enrolled in WIOA and enrolls in an NC Career Launch Youth Apprenticeship program, would the individual’s program need to be changed and keyed in as an NC Career Launch student? 

If a youth participant is currently enrolled in a WIOA Youth program, staff would follow the same steps and add the two-step process to capture all Career Launch participants in the same way. In some cases, youth participants may already be enrolled in Wagner-Peyser (WP); if so, local workforce areas would only need to update to add the WP special indicator and add the Agency Defined Program (ADP) to ensure all NC Career Launch program participants are reported in one place for tracking purposes. Individuals will continue to be enrolled in WIOA Youth, in addition to WP and ADP.