One year after the creation of the Finish Line Grants program, Gov. Roy Cooper announced that more than 1,700 Finish Line Grants have helped community college students complete their training and prepare to enter the workforce. These grants total more than $1.1 million awarded to date.

“We launched Finish Line Grants after hearing countless stories of community college students working hard to better their lives but getting thrown off course by a financial emergency,” said Cooper in a prepared statement. “Finish Line Grants are helping hundreds of students get good-paying jobs by making sure a hospital bill or car repair doesn’t stop them in their tracks. North Carolina employers need talented workers, and Finish Line Grants are one way we’re making sure they can find them.”

Since last summer, Finish Line Grants have been launched at all of North Carolina’s 58 community colleges. Each of North Carolina’s 23 workforce development boards partnered with community colleges to make Finish Line Grants available for students in their communities. Students must be 50 percent of the way through their degree or credential training program to be eligible to receive a grant.

Finish Line Grants have also gotten a boost from the Awake58 Fellows Program. Awake58 Fellows are community college students — some of whom are Finish Line Grant recipients — who encourage their eligible peers to apply for Finish Line Grants and inform community college faculty and staff, workforce board partners and others of the Finish Line Grants opportunity to ensure that as many students as possible can benefit from it. Awake58 fellows have produced radio segments, hosted lunch and learn information sessions and conducted other communication campaigns to get the word out about Finish Line Grants.

Cooper’s most recent budget proposal includes funding to expand the Finish Line Grants program to colleges and universities across the state.

Finish Line Grants are part of Cooper’s NC Job Ready initiative, built on three core principles: skills and education attainment, employer leadership and local innovation.

Students interested in applying for a Finish Line Grant can contact College of The Albemarle’s Finish Line Grant staff person Lynn Hurdle-Winslow at ext. 2251, by dialing any of the following campus numbers: Barco 252-453-3035, Edenton-Chowan 252-482-7900, Manteo 252-473-2264 or Elizabeth City 252-335-0821.

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