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7 <br /> r.'.o,. <br /> NORTH CAROLINA <br /> DEPARTMENT of Roy Cooper <br /> er <br /> „ I COMMERCE GOVERNOR <br /> Machelle Baker Sanders <br /> SECRETARY <br /> Dear Local Leaders, <br /> When CEOs and business leaders visit North Carolina to explore opportunities to relocate or <br /> expand their businesses in our state,they almost always lead with one question: Does North <br /> Carolina have the skilled workforce I need to be successful?Thanks in part to our outstanding <br /> Community College System,world-class public and private universities,and a robust network of <br /> training providers and opportunities,the answer to that question is "yes." But we are missing <br /> opportunities to align our workforce development system with our economic development <br /> activities more closely,and to create new synergies within those systems that will benefit North <br /> Carolina, our economy, our businesses,and our job seekers. <br /> Last month,with Governor Cooper's encouragement and after careful study,the NCWorks <br /> Commission approved a set of guiding principles for local governments to follow in considering <br /> realigning their current workforce development area boundaries.The Governor supports those <br /> guiding principles because he knows that when our state is well-organized and in sync,we can <br /> accomplish great things.Among the guiding principles are making sure workforce boards serve <br /> more than just a single county,aligning local workforce board areas with community college service <br /> areas,and reducing redundancy while enhancing administrative efficiency.These steps will enable <br /> our local workforce boards to better leverage federal dollars while enhancing workforce <br /> development initiatives and focusing on work-based-learning opportunities like on-the-job <br /> training,apprenticeships,and credential attainment.We can expand upon the good work that is <br /> already being done in many areas,while building a workforce system that is more consistent, <br /> simplified and navigable for businesses. <br /> We cannot wait to take advantage of this opportunity.With unemployment levels approaching <br /> historic lows and employers searching for talent,now is the time to make significant updates to our <br /> workforce board system to ensure we are mobilizing the best and brightest possible workforce for <br /> North Carolina.We need innovative approaches to engaging prospective workers,businesses, and <br /> State of North Carolina I Department of Commence <br /> 301 North Wilmington Street 14301 Mail Service Center I Raleigh,NC 27694-4301 <br /> 919 814 4600 T <br />