WHEREAS, the Governor’s First in Talent: Strategic Economic Development Plan for the State of North Carolina sets a goal to prepare North Carolina’s workforce for career and entrepreneurial success; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina has set a statewide education attainment goal to increase the number of individuals attaining a high-quality credential or postsecondary degree to two million people by 2030; and
WHEREAS, myFutureNC’s 2021 Educational Attainment Report shows that for every 100 students in North Carolina, only 31 earn a postsecondary degree or credential within six years of graduating high school; and
WHEREAS, the recently launched Longleaf Commitment grant program ensures that recent high school graduates from low- and middle-income families will receive at least $2,800 in federal and state grants to cover tuition and most fees at any of the state’s 58 community colleges; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Commerce, in collaboration with the Governor, the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC), the North Carolina higher education sectors, the Department of Public Instruction, and multiple state agencies, provides the NCcareers.org website which serves as an integrated career information system allowing North Carolinians to explore careers and job opportunities and connect with the education and training programs to prepare them; and
WHEREAS, CFNC is a State resource that provides comprehensive online resources and in-person guidance and training to support students as they plan, apply, and pay for college in North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina encourages students to use CFNC.org to research higher education opportunities and submit college applications, and to use their CFNC accounts to visit NCcareers.org to explore growing North Carolina careers, to prepare them to succeed in today’s global economy and support North Carolina’s growing workforce needs;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim October, 2022, as “NORTH CAROLINA COUNTDOWN TO COLLEGE MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.