Operational Guidance | OG 08-2026: NCWorks Partner Infrastructure Funding Agreement
- Date: September 4, 2026
- Subject: NCWorks Partner Infrastructure Funding Agreement
- From: Andrea L. DeSantis, Assistant Secretary for Workforce
Purpose:
To provide guidance on the required NCWorks Partner Infrastructure Funding Agreement (IFA)
Background:
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Section 121(c)(1) requires each Local Area Workforce Development Board (WDB), with the agreement of the Chief Local Elected Official (CLEO), to develop and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between the Local Area WDB and the One-Stop partners, consistent with WIOA Section 121(c)(2), concerning the operation of the One-Stop delivery system in a local workforce area.
The sharing and allocation of infrastructure costs among One-Stop partners is required and is governed by WIOA Section 121(h), its implementing regulations, and the Federal Cost Principles contained in the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) at 2 CFR part 200.
Action:
The WDBs must use the attached IFA template, as it contains all required elements. The IFA document takes effect on the first day of the program year: July 1. The IFA is valid for one (1) program year and must be updated annually.
The WDBs must electronically submit the IFA documents (signed by all parties except the Department of Commerce) to the assigned Division of Workforce Solutions (DWS) Planner. The IFA for the current program year must be submitted no later than the close of business on November 30, 2026. The CLEOs and the WDB Chairs will be notified if the IFA is not submitted to the DWS by the due date.
Department of Commerce (Commerce) leadership will sign for both the DWS and the Division of Employment Security (DES) once all other signatures have been secured. Regional Operations Directors and other DWS staff members cannot sign IFAs. The WDBs must send their IFA documents to their Planner after all other parties have signed them, at which point, the IFA will be circulated within Commerce for verification and signature.
Effective Date:
Immediately
Expiration:
June 30, 2027
Contact:
DWS Planner
Attachments:
- Partner Infrastructure Funding Agreement
- Infrastructure Funding Agreement Signatory Page
- NC WIOA IFA Designated Signatories