RALEIGH: Governor Roy Cooper directed $14.5 million in new federal funding to further support postsecondary students in completing their degree or credential and to support beginning teachers as they start a new academic year.

The Governor is investing $7.5 million in funding for the Finish Line Grants program for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years. The Finish Line Grants Program, launched by the Governor in 2018 with federal funding from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), is designed to provide grants to community college students who face unexpected emergencies, including medical bills, car repairs, and loss of childcare, that might prevent them from finishing their coursework.

“Finish Line Grants have helped thousands of students over the past four years stay on track toward completing a credential or degree,” said Governor Cooper. “This new funding will help even more students better their lives by making sure a hospital bill or car repair doesn’t stop them from finishing their training.”

Through a partnership between the North Carolina Department of Commerce Division of Workforce Solutions, local workforce development boards, the North Carolina Community College System, and local community colleges, Finish Line Grants totaling over $4.7 million have been awarded to more than 5,400 community college students in the past four years.

With this new injection of funding, administration of the program will transition from the Department of Commerce to the North Carolina Community College System. As with the original program, students will still be required to have completed at least 50% of their program of study and be experiencing an unexpected financial emergency to qualify for a grant. Given the increase in the amount of funding and greater flexibility of the funds, more community college students will be able to take advantage of the program.