GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 240
Short Title: Establish NCSTARS Grant Program. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Settle, Craven, and Johnson (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 6, 2025
*S240 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE NORTH CAROLINA S TRATEGIC TRAINING AN D 2
RELIABLE SKILLS GRAN T PROGRAM TO INCREAS E ENGAGEMENT IN 3
APPRENTICESHIP AND PREAPPRENTICSHIP PROGRAMS AND TO APPROPRIATE 4
FUNDS FOR THAT PURPOSE. 5
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 6
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PART I. ESTABLISH NORTH CAROLINA STRATEG IC TRAINING AND RELIABLE 8
SKILLS GRANT PROGRAM 9
SECTION 1.(a) Program Established; Purpose. – There is established the North 10
Carolina Strategic Training And Reliable Skills Grant Program (NCSTARS) for the 2026-2027 11
through 2028-2029 academic years. The purpose of NCSTARS is to provide matching grants to 12
community colleges that partner with nearby public school units and local business partners to 13
develop a regional, work-based learning program to provide opportunities to learn and reinforce 14
key skills for postsecondary opportunities, including apprenticeships and preapprenticeships, to 15
students age 16 and older that are eligible for work-based learning according to the Department 16
of Public Instruction. 17
SECTION 1.(b) Program Participation; Grant Recipient Selection. – During the 18
2025-2026 academic year, the Community Colleges System Office shall, in consultation with 19
Surry-Yadkin Works, create an application for community colleges to receive NCSTARS grants. 20
The application shall be made available to all community colleges no later than 60 days after this 21
act becomes law. Applications shall be submitted to the System Office no later than 60 days after 22
the application is made available. The System Office shall select three community colleges to 23
receive NCSTARS grants no more than 30 days after the close of the application period. The 24
System Office shall consult with Surry-Yadkin Works when determining which community 25
colleges shall receive NCSTARS grants. The System Office shall prioritize the selection of 26
applicants whose applications include the establishment of programs substantially similar to the 27
Fostering Learning through Education, Employment, and Trades (FLEET) program operated by 28
Surry-Yadkin Works. The application shall include at least the following: 29
(1) A resolution signed by the board of trustees of the community college stating 30
their intention to participate in NCSTARS. 31
(2) A resolution signed by the governing body of each public school unit 32
intending to partner with the community college to participate in NCSTARS. 33
(3) Letters from at least five local employers stating their intention to partner with 34
the community college to participate in NCSTARS. 35 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 240-First Edition
(4) A detailed plan and statement from the community college explaining how the 1
community college will model their program after Surry-Yadkin Works. 2
(5) A plan to continue the program beyond the 2028-2029 academic year, 3
regardless of the availability of any State funds. 4
(6) Any other information requested by the System Office. 5
SECTION 1.(c) Grants. – Each participating community college shall receive grants 6
of up to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for each year of NCSTARS. The System Office 7
shall provide matching funds in the amount of three dollars ($3.00) for every one dollar ($1.00) 8
of local funding contributed toward NCSTARS. Acceptable uses for grant funds include the 9
following: 10
(1) Stipends for students. 11
(2) Travel expenses for students. 12
(3) Staff salaries and benefits. 13
(4) Other expenses incurred in the course of participating in NCSTARS. 14
SECTION 1.(d) Technical Assistance. – Surry-Yadkin Works shall provide ongoing 15
technical assistance to all participating community colleges. 16
SECTION 1.(e) Initial Report. – The System Office shall report to the Joint 17
Legislative Education Oversight Committee by April 1, 2026, on the following: 18
(1) The community colleges that were selected to participate in NCSTARS. 19
(2) The number of public school units participating in NCSTARS and which 20
community college they are partnering with. 21
(3) The number of local businesses participating in NCSTARS and which 22
community college they are partnering with. 23
(4) The number of registered apprentices or preapprentices that have been 24
established as a result of NCSTARS. 25
(5) The anticipated dollar value of grants to be given out over the course of 26
NCSTARS. 27
(6) Any other information the System Office deems relevant. 28
SECTION 1.(f) Final Report. – The System Office shall report to the Joint 29
Legislative Education Oversight Committee by August 1, 2029, on the following: 30
(1) The total dollar value of grants that were given out over the course of 31
NCSTARS. 32
(2) An evaluation of the effectiveness of NCSTARS. 33
(3) The number of registered apprentices or preapprentices that have been 34
established as a result of NCSTARS. 35
(4) A summary of local government plans to continue their program beyond the 36
2028-2029 academic year. 37
(5) Any recommended legislative actions to continue or modify NCSTARS. 38
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PART II. APPROPRIATION 40
SECTION 2.(a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Community 41
Colleges System Office the sum of four million seven hundred fifty thousand dollars 42
($4,750,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to provide grants pursuant to 43
Section 1 of this act. Funds appropriated by this section shall not revert but shall remain available 44
until the end of the 2028-2029 fiscal year. 45
SECTION 2.(b) Of the funds appropriated by subsection (a) of this section, up to 46
two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) shall be made available to Surry-Yadkin Works for 47
technical assistance. Of the funds appropriated by subsection (a) of this section, up to fifty 48
thousand dollars ($50,000) shall be made available to the System Office for administrative 49
support. 50
SECTION 2.(c) This section becomes effective July 1, 2025. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Senate Bill 240-First Edition Page 3
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PART III. EFFECTIVE DATE 2
SECTION 3. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 3
law. 4