Federal Grant Award Summary

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) awarded the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Workforce Solutions Division $19.17 million under the Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities program (CFDA 17.207) for the period July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028. This formula grant funds universal access employment services designed to connect job seekers with employment opportunities and assist employers in identifying qualified candidates. Core services for job seekers include job search assistance, career assessments, career guidance, labor market information, and referrals to employment and training opportunities. Services available to employers include job posting capabilities, applicant referrals, recruitment support for hard-to-fill positions, and assistance with workforce restructuring initiatives.

The award supports the delivery of employment services through North Carolina's American Job Centers and enables the grantee to subaward funds to local workforce development boards and community partners for service provision and labor market information research. The program explicitly excludes direct training services, focusing instead on labor exchange and career guidance to facilitate rapid workforce reentry. As a universal access program, services are available to all individuals seeking employment, with priority extended to veterans and covered populations facing employment barriers.