Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt announces policy priorities, implementation

On Feb. 13, North Carolina Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt announced Future-Ready North Carolina, a plan to bolster workforce development by increasing access to affordable child care and reworking community college programs. 

“I think it’s because of our programs — that turn out high quality graduates ready for jobs — that we see a lot of investment coming into the state, and a lot of businesses are growing here,” Daniel Gilligan, director of policy at Hunt’s office, said. 

According to a press release by Hunt’s office, one of the plan’s main focuses will be child care. The plan includes the N.C. Tri-Share Program, which splits child care costs evenly between parents, their employers and the state government. Hunt plans to renew the existing programs and fund new ones.

Gilligan said there is currently a $5 billion disruption to the state’s economy because of child care shortages, which he said is already in a state of crisis. 

Another focus of the plan is retaining and expanding child care facilities on community college campuses across the state. According to the press release, roughly one-fifth of North Carolina community colleges have an on-site child care facility, though their funding will decrease by half in the next budget cycle and several have recently closed.

Christina Hallingse, the director of media relations at Cape Fear Community College, said the college's on-site child care facility has been a part of keeping student parents in school since it opened in 2023.

The college’s child care facility expanded from a capacity of 20 children to 40 since 2023, Hallingse said. On average, she said the facility sees around 20 children each day, though the number increases when public school is not in session, including teacher work days.

Several mothers told college staff that they were going to have to drop out for a semester because they could not find child care for their child, Hallingse said.

“The center is alleviating child care pressures that they may be experiencing when they're out of school and allowing them to attend courses here,” she said.

Alongside addressing child care, Future-Ready North Carolina will support Propel NC, which Gilligan said most community colleges already have. Propel NC funds academic programs to put students in touch with local employers and give them real work experience. 

Aharon Segal, an organizer for the Local 553 Union of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said the union offers career readiness programs to commercial and industrial electricians in partnership with Durham Technical Community College. He said students in the apprenticeship work for contractors and attend classes simultaneously, which helps fill the deficit of skilled trade workers.

“There’s a pretty well documented shortage of skilled tradespeople because the number of retirements, I think, are outpacing the new people coming in at this exact moment,” he said.

Gilligan said the plan’s most immediate goal to support Future-Ready North Carolina is a tour of all 58 state community colleges, during which they will be promoting the Propel NC funding model and building connections between community colleges and local employers.

“I think it's a great starting point,” Segal said. “I think anytime you’re starting out with a goal that you’re going to support community colleges, and you’re going to meet this workforce demand, and support the skilled trades and getting people into jobs where they can make a living, I think you’re going in the right direction.”

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