Carteret CC Awarded $297,860 to Launch Carteret Works Apprenticeship Program

Internship-to-apprenticeship pipeline

Carteret Community College, in partnership with Carteret County Public Schools, local businesses, MyFutureNC, and NCWorks, has been awarded $297,860 through the Golden LEAF Foundation Open Grants Program. This funding will support the launch of Carteret Works, an innovative internship-to-apprenticeship pipeline designed to connect high school and college students with local businesses for paid work-based learning opportunities.

“The Golden LEAF Foundation is proud to support Carteret Community College’s collaborative strategy to provide training that will help fill high demand healthcare, trades, and hospitality and culinary positions in the region,” said Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer, Scott T. Hamilton. “This project will help students earn a third-party or industry credential, receive employability training, and participate in an internship or apprenticeship to increase the number of skilled workers for area employers.”

Carteret Works is modeled after the successful Surry-Yadkin Works program and aims to bridge the gap between education and employment by providing students with real-world experience, high school and college credits, and industry-recognized credentials. The initiative will create a skilled workforce pipeline to support key industries in Carteret County, including construction and trades, healthcare, automotive, agriculture, information technology, manufacturing, and education.

“We are thrilled to receive this generous funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation,” said Dr. Tracy Mancini, President of Carteret Community College. “Carteret Works builds on our strong relationships with Carteret County Public Schools and local employers, expanding current opportunities to transform students’ lives, meet industry demands, and ensure a strong economic future for Carteret County.”

Key Features of Carteret Works:

Work-Based Learning: Students will participate in internships, pre-apprenticeships, and apprenticeships, gaining hands-on experience while earning stipends and wages from local employers.

Industry-Specific Training: The program will offer customized training pathways aligned with the needs of Carteret County’s top employment sectors.

New Executive Director Role: A dedicated Executive Director will lead Carteret Works, serving as the liaison between educators, employers, and economic development partners.

Carteret Works Advisory Board: Key stakeholders from education, business, and industry will provide strategic guidance and support for program expansion and sustainability.

Soft Skills Development: Through Carteret Community College’s Human Resource Development (HRD) Program, students will receive training in employability skills, communication, financial literacy, and career planning.

Carteret County Public Schools’ existing CAPE (Careers and Partners in Education) Program provides internships for high school students in Career and College Promise programs. Carteret Works will expand these opportunities, integrating pre-apprenticeships and industry-recognized credentials to ensure students graduate career-ready.

“Our schools, local businesses, and Carteret Community College continue to work together to create meaningful career pathways for students,” said Richard Paylor, Superintendent of Carteret County Public Schools. “Through these partnerships and hands-on learning experiences, students are gaining the skills and credentials they need to succeed in today’s workforce.”

The first steps of the initiative include hiring the Executive Director and forming the Carteret Works Advisory Board, which will help guide the program, secure additional funding, and increase student placements in internships and apprenticeships.

To date, the Golden LEAF Foundation has awarded Carteret Community College a total of $1,920,116 in funding to support a range of impactful projects. These projects include the expansion of the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program, advancements in the automotive technology program, the development of a high school welding pathway, equipment for the hospitality and culinary arts center, shoreline mitigation efforts, and MaST Early High School. These investments have significantly contributed to workforce development and economic growth in the region.

About Carteret Community College

Carteret Community College, located in Morehead City, N.C., provides high-quality education and workforce training to support local economic development. The college offers associate degrees, diplomas, and certificate programs, as well as continuing education opportunities tailored to the needs of students and businesses.

About the Golden LEAF Foundation

The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to receive a portion of North Carolina’s funding from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers. For 25 years, Golden LEAF has worked to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities through leadership in grantmaking, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship as an independent and perpetual foundation.