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Gov. Roy Cooper celebrated the progress made during his time in office in building and strengthening North Carolina’s workforce this week, according to a press release.
“North Carolina’s community colleges are our not-so-secret weapon when it comes to building a strong workforce and economy,” Cooper said. “We’re working to make higher education more accessible so students can get the skills they need to succeed to take on the jobs of today and tomorrow.”
Cooper said when he took office in 2017, he wanted “to build a North Carolina where people were better educated, healthier, and had more money in their pockets to live lives of purpose and abundance,” according to the press release. During his tenure as governor, Cooper said he prioritized community colleges to help achieve these goals.
Cooper launched the Finish Line Grants program in 2018 to help community college students who face unforeseen financial emergencies complete their training. Over the past six years, according to the press release, more than 16,000 Finish Line Grants totaling $7.5 million were distributed to help thousands of community college students complete their training and prepare to enter the workforce.
Cooper spoke at Durham Technical Community College this week and was joined by Durham Tech Community College President J.B. Buxton.
“The Finish Line grant has benefited our students and community by ensuring students facing financial barriers to completing their education have a resource available so they can enter the workforce or continue to a four-year institution without interruption to their studies,” Buxton said. “This removes a tremendous amount of stress when life’s unexpected challenges arise.”
Meet Laura Harris, a Durham Tech student and Finish Line Grant recipient.
“At Durham Tech Community College, the Finish Line Grant was more than just financial support for me,” said Harris. “It was a crucial resource that allowed me to overcome unexpected challenges and continue without delay on my academic path to success.”
The single mom of a special needs 7-year-old applied and received the grant when her car required repairs that she did not have the funds to cover, according to the community college. The repairs, she said, were “crucial for attending classes, meeting academic obligations, and ensuring my son’s transportation to school and therapy sessions. Without this support, it would have been incredibly difficult to manage my academic and family responsibilities.”
The grant helped Harris continue her education, and she is on schedule to graduate from Durham Tech with plans to transfer to UNC-Chapel Hill.
In addition to the Finish Line grants, Cooper cited:
The Longleaf Commitment program, a $25.5 million investment to guarantee that 2021 graduating high school seniors from low- and middle-income families received at least $2,800 in federal and state grants to cover tuition and most fees at any of the state’s 58 community colleges. In Nov. 2021, the program was expanded through the state budget to include 2022 high school graduates. To date, more than 27,400 students have received a grant, and 77% of the grants have gone to students with family incomes less than $60,000.
$20 million in federal funding to create Workforce Resilience Grants for eligible community college students pursuing high-demand workforce training programs within ten workforce pathways leading to a state or industry recognized credential, including in advanced manufacturing, automotive, IT, construction, and education. To date, more than 22,500 students across the state have received Workforce Resilience Grants.
Cooper’s support was also important in the bipartisan leadership for myFutureNC‘s attainment goal to ensure that by 2030, 2 million North Carolinians have a high-quality credential or a postsecondary degree.
“It’s great to see how our community colleges are preparing students for the jobs of today and tomorrow, and it’s critical that we continue to invest in them,” Cooper said at Durham Tech. “When we invest in our people, we invest in success. When our community colleges are strong, our workforce is strong. When our workforce is strong, our economy is strong. And when our economy is strong, so is our state, which helps put more money in the pockets of North Carolina families.”
From announcing new industries and workforce partnerships to celebrating local educators and leaders, from launching new programs and initiatives on good days to holding press conference on bad days, here is a look back at Cooper’s visits to community colleges during his tenure as governor, which spanned four community college system presidents.
A look back at how Cooper showed up at community colleges across North Carolina
In October 2023, Cooper honored workforce development excellence, including outstanding teen Elijah James, a student at Cleveland Community College.
In July 2021, Cooper visited Halifax Community College to talk with 20 high school students and instructors who are part of North Carolina’s first Clean Energy Youth Apprenticeship Pilot, the Halifax Lighthouse Solar Camp.
He was in Canton and Haywood County over and over again throughout his tenure as governor after the floods, the closing of the paper mill, and most recently after Hurricane Helene.
In Cooper’s March 2023 State of the State address, which in hindsight was the same night as we all were finding out about the closing of the papermill in Canton, Cooper said, “In every corner of our state, community colleges are coordinating directly with local industry and workforce development boards. They’re creating hands-on training programs that help their graduates cross the stage with a degree or credential and a job offer in hand.”
Cooper said to the legislators, “I’ve worked with you in a bipartisan way to make sure people can get this training through Longleaf Commitment grants, Finish Line grants, and other community college funding. Let’s keep at it.”
In 2025, the Southeastern Education and Economic Development (SEED) Summer Apprenticeship Academy will be offered at James Sprunt, Lenoir, Sampson, Wayne, and Wilson community colleges.
In August 2022, Cooper announced federal funding to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to create STEPs4GROWTH, a clean energy workforce training program establishing regional training centers at Halifax Community College and Martin County Community College.
In June 2023, Cooper, President Joe Biden, and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visited Nash Community College.
Richmond Community College partners with re-entry programs and provides classes for those incarcerated at Richmond Correctional Institution and Scotland Correctional Institution. In April 2024, Cooper signed a proclamation making it “Second Chance Month” in North Carolina.
In July 2019, Vance-Granville Community College welcomed a member of Cooper’s cabinet, Department of Administration Secretary Machelle Sanders, to its main campus.
In 2019, Cooper became the first governor to attend Merlefest, held on the campus of Wilkes Community College, introducing the Steep Canyon Rangers.
In Cooper’s remarks at Durham Tech, which you can see here, he was advocating for community colleges and faculty pay to the very end.
“Our skilled, diverse and dedicated workforce is North Carolina’s most important asset. And our community colleges help make it that way,” said Cooper. “And one of the main reasons for that is our amazing community college faculty. Getting help for students helps the faculty, but we need to continue to fight for higher community college faculty salaries.”
On Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2024, Gov. Cooper will deliver his farewell remarks at Nash Community College.
