First Workforce Pell programs in North Carolina receive federal approval
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) announced that it approved six Workforce Pell Grant programs in North Carolina, all at Forsyth Technical Community College.
Beginning in January 2027, eligible students enrolled in the approved programs — including EMT basic certification, nursing assistant I, nursing assistant II, industrial welding, fire academy, and electrical lineworker academy — will be able to use federal Workforce Pell Grant dollars to pay for these short-term workforce training programs. Historically, Pell Grants could only be used to support students pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree.
“These grants will help train the next generation of nurses, electricians, welders, and emergency responders in North Carolina,” said Gov. Josh Stein in a press release. “Investing in stellar community colleges like Forsyth Tech strengthens our state’s workforce pipeline, supports employers in high-demand fields, and expands access to high-skill, high-wage jobs. I’m grateful for the federal government’s support in uplifting our state’s most valuable resource — our people.”
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U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited her alma mater, New Bern High School, on Friday, where she celebrated the announcement.
“It was incredible to join local business leaders in my home state of North Carolina to break the news that Workforce Pell is finally delivering on the promise of putting students first,” said McMahon in the press release. “These programs are fast, affordable, and aligned with real workforce needs. This approval represents a commitment to expanding opportunity and strengthening the Tar Heel State’s talent pipeline.”
The announcement came after the NCWorks Commission, which is charged with state-level review of Workforce Pell Programs, approved a total of 54 programs across 21 community colleges.
The federal Workforce Pell Grant program requires that programs are first approved at the state level before applying for final federal approval. So far, the six programs at Forsyth Tech are the only in the state to receive federal approval.
“For our students, this means the cost of training is no longer a reason to put their future on hold,” said Forsyth Tech President Janet Spriggs in the press release. “Workforce Pell opens a door for people who have always had the talent and drive but not the means, and once they’re through it, we’ll be here to help them keep climbing.”
Read more about Workforce Pell
North Carolina is the fifth state in the country to receive federal Workforce Pell approvals, behind Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, and Texas.
The NCWorks Commission approved 43 programs on Aug. 12 and an additional 11 programs on Sept. 16. To qualify for Workforce Pell, programs have to be aligned with a high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupation, have strong outcomes — including at least a 70% completion rate and a 70% job placement rate — and be stackable, among other things.
Following state approval, institutions can submit their programs for federal approval. The DOE then has 120 days to issue federal approval.
The NCWorks Commission plans to approve additional Workforce Pell programs on a quarterly basis, with the next meeting set for Nov. 18.
During a convening of community college trustees in August, Spriggs encouraged community college leaders to not think of Workforce Pell as a financial aid initiative, but as a way to advance workforce development and economic mobility.
“From our perspective, this is a tool for us to help more students access a pathway for education that’s going to lead them to a family-sustaining wage, a good job, and a career opportunity,” Spriggs said.
EdNC is tracking all state and federal approvals of Workforce Pell Grants in North Carolina here.