North Carolina is taking a big step toward strengthening its workforce pipeline. The North Carolina Association of Workforce Development Boards (NCAWDB) has enlisted Safal Partners, a national leader in apprenticeship and workforce system integration, to provide technical assistance and training aimed at weaving Registered Apprenticeships more deeply into the state’s workforce programs.
This initiative aligns with Governor Roy Cooper’s Executive Order 11, signed in March, which sets a target for six percent of federal WIOA Title I Youth and Adult funds to support pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs. NCAWDB’s partnership with Safal Partners aims to help local workforce boards meet—and potentially exceed—this goal.
“North Carolina’s local workforce boards are an important engine for the state’s economic growth through workforce development,” said Dr. Stephanie Deese, Executive Director of NCAWDB. “Safal will accelerate our boards’ ability to effectively use federal funding in providing more Registered Apprenticeship program career pathway opportunities for North Carolinians and support for local employers offering those programs.”
Safal Partners brings a mix of virtual, in-person, and hybrid training programs designed to help workforce boards develop apprenticeship-friendly policies, train staff, engage stakeholders, and strategically braid funding streams. The goal: create more career pathways in high-demand occupations while supporting local employers in offering structured, mentored apprenticeship programs.
“We look forward to leveraging Safal’s expertise and their work with other states to see how North Carolina can maximize Governor Stein’s targeted use of WIOA funds to support registered apprenticeships,” said Dr. Chris Harrington, State Director at ApprenticeshipNC, part of the North Carolina Community College System.
Katie Adams, Chief Delivery Officer at Safal Partners, added, “We applaud NCAWDB for its leadership in equipping boards to meet Governor Stein’s goals for WIOA spending on Registered Apprenticeship. We look forward to providing the Association’s members with the tools and expertise needed to serve both North Carolina employers and provide job seekers with paid, mentored training that leads to increased economic mobility.”
This move positions North Carolina alongside other states leveraging federal workforce funds to expand apprenticeships—a trend gaining momentum nationally as employers face talent shortages and seek robust pipelines for skilled labor. By combining strategic guidance, training, and funding alignment, NCAWDB and Safal Partners are setting a roadmap for boards to scale apprenticeship programs efficiently.
With workforce development under pressure to meet both economic and employer demands, North Carolina’s approach could become a model for other states looking to maximize WIOA impact while expanding career opportunities in high-demand sectors.
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