Arnold Ventures has announced a $35.6 million commitment to the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) in support of its new workforce development program.

The largest private grant ever to NCCCS will support NC Community Colleges Boost, program designed to quickly move students into high-wage, high-demand careers. Launching over the next two years with technical assistance from City University of New York’s Accelerated Study in Associate Programs’ National Replication Collaborative, the program will serve students at eight colleges across the state in 2025 and add seven more in 2026. The North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation will help manage the grant program in partnership with NCCCS.

“Arnold Ventures is excited to support NC Community Colleges Boost, and we have the utmost confidence in North Carolina’s ability to successfully implement this evidence-based program tailored to the unique needs and culture of North Carolina,” said Arnold Ventures executive vice president of strategy and programs Kirby Smith. “By aligning the program’s goals with the [statewide] workforce development goals [we] are ensuring that students will not only improve their economic security but will contribute to a thriving North Carolina economy.”

For a complete list of participating community colleges, see the Arnold Ventures website.

(Photo credit: Getty Images/FG Trade Latin)