Operational Guidance | OG 04-2026: NC Career Launch Youth Apprenticeship Grant

• Date: June 2, 2026
• Subject: NC Career Launch Youth Apprenticeship Grant
• From: Andrea L. DeSantis, Assistant Secretary for Workforce

Purpose:

To transmit the guidelines and application for the administration of the NC Career Launch Youth Apprenticeship Grant to Local Area Workforce Development Boards (WDBs).

Background:

Governor set-aside funds awarded from the US Department of Labor’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) will be dedicated to NC Career Launch (NCCL), which will be used to grow youth apprenticeships across the state in a variety of industries and provide financial support for both employers and students, with a special focus on supporting youth apprenticeships in western North Carolina. 

The WDBs will partner with the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) to co-enroll In-School Youth (ISY) 11th and 12th graders into NCCL pre-apprenticeships and WIOA programs. 

The first appropriation of the funds for Program Year (PY) 2026 will be used to support existing active NCCL programs throughout the State of North Carolina. Funding for PY 2026 will focus on scaling existing programs and developing new opportunities across the state.

Pre-apprenticeships are an important component of work-based learning. They help build talent pipelines, prepare youth for careers, and support skills development in preparation for apprenticeships and other additional Work-Based Learning opportunities.   This funding opportunity will help expand pre-apprenticeship opportunities and build collaboration between WDBs and NCBCE, expanding supports for enrolled students. 

The WDBs will submit a NCCL Youth Apprenticeship Grant Funding Request Form (attached) once the number of participants that will be served is identified. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until funding expires.

The Division of Workforce Solutions (DWS) is responsible for overseeing and monitoring the use of state set-aside funds as well as reporting to the Governor’s office on the behalf of state agencies. 

Awarded agencies that provide services to individuals must track those individuals. Participants served in the Career Launch grant must be keyed into NCWorks.gov and will be part of the State’s WIOA performance. The DWS will provide a keying guide, ISY WIOA Eligibility Guidance, and Q&A document, which will be maintained on the Staff Online Resources Page located in NCWorks.gov and on the NC Career Launch webpage within the NC Department of Commerce website.

Action:

The WDBs  must partner with NCBCE to identify existing programs and/or develop new programs. Once programs are identified, WDBs may request NC Career Launch Youth Apprenticeship Grant funds by submitting a completed NC Career Launch Youth Apprenticeship Grant Funding Request Form to Shannon Jones-Hines at shannon.jones-hines@commerce.nc.gov. 

Effective Date:

Immediately

Expiration:

June 30, 2027

Contact:

Industry and Talent Development

Attachment: