North Carolina Customized Training Program
North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS)
No cost to employer
NC's 58 community colleges train your workers at no cost
No-cost or low-cost training for new and expanding North Carolina businesses, delivered through the state's 58 community colleges. Employers work with a local community college to design and deliver customized training — the college covers instruction and curriculum costs. Available to manufacturers, tech companies, and any employer creating or retaining NC jobs.
- Funding type
- Program
- Level
- State
- Amount
- State-funded through NCCCS appropriation — no direct dollar grant to employer; value is free customized training delivered by the community college partner. Typical value: $1,000–$2,000 per trainee in instruction and curriculum costs absorbed by the college.
- Realistic amount
- Training value of $50,000–$500,000 for a typical employer cohort (50–300 trainees), fully absorbed by the state/communit…
- Deadline
- Rolling — no application deadlines. Contact your regional community college at any time.
- Status
- active
- States
- NC
- Payment model
- subsidized services
Who qualifies
- Business must be located in North Carolina OR be a new business committing to locate in NC
- Business must be creating new jobs, retaining existing jobs, or expanding operations in NC
- Any industry eligible — manufacturing, technology, healthcare, logistics, agriculture, and others
- Training must be customized to the employer's specific needs — not generic coursework
- Business must partner with a local NC community college that will develop and deliver the training
- Employers with 25 or fewer employees may access additional support through the New and Expanding Industry Training (NEIT) pathway within the program
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Instruction and instructor fees (absorbed by community college)
- Curriculum development costs (absorbed by community college)
- Training materials and supplies (typically absorbed by college)
- Equipment for training delivery at college facilities
Ineligible expenses
- Trainee wages during training
- Training for employees in other states
- Generic off-the-shelf coursework without customization
- Training for employers not creating or retaining NC jobs
How to apply
-
1
Contact your regional community college
Reach out to the NC community college serving your county. Each of the 58 NC community colleges has a Corporate and Continuing Education (or Workforce Development) office. Explain your training needs and workforce size. They will assess eligibility and begin a project assessment.
~2 hrs
-
2
Needs assessment and curriculum design
College staff conduct a training needs assessment with the employer. They design a customized curriculum targeting specific job skills, equipment, or processes. Employer provides input on content; college develops the curriculum at no charge to the employer.
~6 hrs
-
3
Training delivery
The community college delivers training at your facility or at the college. Instructors are sourced and paid by the college. Training can be for new hires, existing workers, or both. The employer's role is ensuring workers attend.
~2 hrs
-
4
Documentation and reporting
College tracks attendance and reports outcomes to NCCCS. Employers may be asked to confirm job creation or retention tied to the training investment. No invoice or reimbursement paperwork from the employer side.
~1 hrs
The employer doesn't pay or apply formally — contact the nearest community college's corporate training office. They handle everything and have strong incentive to serve you (their NCCCS funding is tied to industry partnerships).
Deadline & timing
Customized Training operates year-round with no intake cycles. Engagement starts by contacting the community college nearest to the employer's facility. Training timeline is negotiated directly with the college.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.