Johnston County Included In Regional $50,000 Workforce Grant

RALEIGH, N.C. — Johnston County employers could see expanded workforce and apprenticeship assistance through a new $50,000 state grant awarded to the regional workforce board serving the county.

The N.C. Department of Commerce awarded the funding to the Capital Area Workforce Development Board, which serves Johnston, Chatham, Lee, Orange and Wake counties.

The grant is part of $660,000 distributed among 13 local workforce development boards across North Carolina to strengthen connections between employers and the workforce system.

Local boards will determine how to use the funding based on regional needs. The money can support employer outreach and work-based learning programs, including apprenticeships.

For Johnston County businesses, the effort is intended to provide another avenue for finding workers, developing employees and connecting with employment and training programs.

Gov. Josh Stein said the grants are designed to increase partnerships between employers and local workforce organizations.

“This grant program is one way to help our local workforce partners serve more businesses, which will in turn help create good jobs for talented North Carolinians,” Stein said.

The effort is also tied to a statewide goal of engaging 50,000 employers as partners in developing North Carolina’s workforce.

N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said workforce development and economic development are closely connected.

“These employer engagement grants will continue to foster that connection and strengthen our NCWorks partners’ capacity for delivering talent services to innovative companies,” Lilley said.

Employers interested in participating can work with their local Workforce Development Board or NCWorks Career Center. Businesses can provide information about hiring needs, workforce challenges and training interests, allowing workforce officials to determine what programs or services may be available.

The Capital Area Workforce Development Board was one of several receiving $50,000 awards. Other grants ranged from $35,000 to $125,000, including a $125,000 regional award shared by Charlotte Works and the Centralina Workforce Development Board.