Title
Skilled to Build Implementation Workforce Grants
Action
Action:
A. Authorize City Manager to negotiate and execute contracts with the following organizations to implement the Skilled to Build Initiative supporting talent development and business engagement services for a term of 18 months:
- Central Piedmont Community College ($200,303),
- Charlotte Area Fund ($185,250),
- Charlotte Electrical ($250,000),
- Charlotte Works & White Label Management ($900,000),
- NCIA ($250,000),
- She Built This City ($250,000), and
B. Authorize the City Manager to amend the contracts consistent with the purpose for which the contracts were approved.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Danielle Frazier, Office of Workforce Development
Raquishela Stewart, Office of Youth Opportunity
Explanation
§ On July 1, 2025, the Projects for Advancing Vehicle-Infrastructure Enhancements (PAVE) Act was enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly. The PAVE Act authorized Mecklenburg County to obtain an additional source of revenue to expand and improve roadway systems and public transportation for the Mecklenburg County region by assessing a one percent local sales and use tax subject to voter approval.
§ The city is preparing for major investments in transportation infrastructure, which is anticipated to create significant contracting and job opportunities over the next several years.
§ In response, the Skilled to Build Initiative was launched in partnership with Economic Development, Contracting and Procurement, Office of Youth Opportunity, and the Office of Workforce Development to prepare talent and small businesses for mobility driven jobs and projects.
§ On December 8, 2025, the city issued two Request for Proposals (RFP); 20 applications were received for Talent Development Grants and four were received for Business Engagement Grants.
§ The organizations selected best meet the grant qualifications in terms of qualifications, experience, cost, and responsiveness to the RFP.
§ Outcome measures for the contracts include:
- Total participants served,
- Industry recognized credentials obtained,
- Job placement in transportation infrastructure occupations,
- Increased wages upon training completion,
- Employment retention for up to one year post program, and
- Total youth placed in career experiences.
§ These contracts will allocate $2,035,553 in grant funding to support the workforce development programs of the Skilled to Build Initiative.
Charlotte Business INClusion
Contract goals were not established for this contract because the scope of work or goods does not present viable subcontracting opportunities. The selected companies will be responsible 100% of the work or goods, and there are no opportunities to include subcontractors. This assessment was confirmed by CBI and the respective department after reviewing the project’s scope and potential for division into subcontracting opportunities.
Fiscal Note
Funding: Revenue replacement funds made available by the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund