There is a lot going on at N.C. Commerce, and here you'll find some of our department's key initiatives.

Public Comment Period for Proposed 2026 Annual Action Plan of the CDBG Program

Periodically, the Department seeks public comment on documents or policies governing our work. Currently, we're accepting comments for a proposed draft of the 2026 Annual Action Plan (AAP), part of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program.

Hurricane Helene Recovery

We are working with a range of partners across the state to help people recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene, which struck the state in September 2024.  Our work includes overseeing a $1.4 billion federal grant from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development agency (HUD), administered by our Division of Community Revitalization (DCR) . More information can also be found in the Disaster Recovery section of our website.

Comment Period for a set of Rules Governing the N.C. Department of Commerce

We invite your comments on a set of rules that apply to the North Carolina Department of Commerce.  The comment period runs from April 1, 2026 through June 1, 2026.  Details on how to submit your feedback can be found on this page of our site:

REPORT | Rules Governing the N.C. Department of Commerce | NC Commerce

Strategic Plan for Economic Development

The State of North Carolina has published a strategic plan for economic development to guide policymakers and practitioners in their work to bring more economic prosperity to the state.

Developed through extensive stakeholder engagement and collaboration with leaders from business, education, workforce development, local government, and nonprofit organizations, the "First in Opportunity" plan outlines strategies to help ensure North Carolina’s growth is sustainable, resilient, and broadly shared. The framework is organized around four strategic goals: 

• modernizing and fortifying infrastructure, 
• accelerating economic competitiveness and innovation, 
• enhancing community well-being, and 
• building a resilient, future-ready workforce.

Employer Engagement: Partner with the Governor's Council on Workforce & Apprenticeships

Businesses across North Carolina are coming together to strengthen the state’s talent pipeline—and we invite your company to be part of it. Add your voice. Share your workforce needs. Help shape the future of North Carolina’s workforce...and ensure your business stays competitive.