** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** AGRICULTURE IS NORTH CAROLINA'S TOP INDUSTRY, CONTRIBUTING $90 BILLION TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY AND PROVIDING 17% OF JOBS. A SURVEY OF FARMS IN NC FOUND ONE OF THE MAIN LIMITATIONS TO GROWTH WAS THE LACK OF RELIABLE, WELL-TRAINED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE LABOR. IN ORDER TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR A SKILLED AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE, WE NEED TO EXPAND ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY TRAINING, SPECIFICALLY FOR PRIMARY OPERATOR AND MANAGER POSITIONS. REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS HELP RECRUIT AND DEVELOP A DIVERSE AND HIGHLY SKILLED WORKFORCE, INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND ALLOW EMPLOYERS TO PARTICIPATE IN TRAINING. BECAUSE OF THE MANY BENEFITS OF REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS AND WORKFORCE NEEDS IN NC, WE PROPOSE TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT NORTH CAROLINA'S FIRST REGISTERED AGRICULTURAL APPRENTICESHIP. BUILDING A NC AGRICULTURAL APPRENTICESHIP FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND RURAL OPPORTUNITIES (NC AAERO) WILL FOCUS ON DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE MIXED VEGETABLE PRODUCTION APPRENTICESHIP, ALLOWING COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS TO EARN WHILE THEY LEARN. THE GOAL OF NC AAERO IS TO INCREASE THE POOL OF TRAINED AGRICULTURAL WORKERS FOR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS AT DIVERSIFIED VEGETABLE OPERATIONS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON TRAINING MINORITY POPULATIONS HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED FROM SUCH POSITIONS. NC AAERO WILL ADDRESS KEY GAPS IN NC'S FOOD AND AGRICULTURE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ADDRESSES SIX OF THE SEVEN USDA STRATEGIC GOALS FOR FY 2018-2022. AS A TEAM, WE WILL DEVELOP STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM, WITH OVER 2000 HOURS OF HANDS-ON-LEARNING AND A MINIMUM OF 144 HOURS OF TECHNICAL SKILLS FOR EACH PARTICIPANT, BASED ON INPUT FROM AGRICULTURAL BUSINESSES AND EDUCATION LEADERS. WE WILL PILOT THE CURRICULUM WITH TWO COHORTS OF APPRENTICES.