Governor Roy Cooper has announced a $51.4 million investment toward education grants and student financial aid.
The funding is meant to help boost college accessibility as the state emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bulk of the money will be directed toward programs that assist low and middle-income families in paying for a college education.
$5 million will support mental health programs in state schools, while over $2 million will be invested in developing equity initiatives for both K-12 and postsecondary students.
The money is part of the Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund, a federal program aimed at helping schools address the impact of the pandemic.
Just over $31 million will help launch the Longleaf Commitment program, which will offer financial aid to those attending any of the state's 58 community colleges. Grants will also be made available to those wishing to transfer to a four-year college or university, or whose education was interrupted by COVID-19.
According to a news release from the governor's office, the Longleaf program will set the stage for the proposed NC Guarantee grant program, which would ensure more robust federal and state grants toward attending college.
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