Durham Workforce Development Board

What Durham Workforce Development Board does

Durham Workforce Development Board is a publicly-funded local workforce development board operating under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) in Durham County, North Carolina. It functions as the statutorily designated convener of workforce services in its territory, administering programs that connect job seekers, employers, training providers, and community-based organizations. Core programs include the NCWorks Career Center (the public-facing access point for job search, training referrals, and career counseling), Durham YouthWorks (summer youth employment and work-readiness for Durham teens), NextGen Durham (re-engagement of opportunity youth ages 16-24 who are out of school and out of work), and the multi-county NC PROWD registered apprenticeship initiative launched in 2025 across 11 counties.

The board's business model is non-commercial and grant-funded. Revenue derives from federal WIOA Title I formula allocations, City of Durham appropriations, and competitive federal grants — most notably a share of the $7.2 million U.S. Department of Labor PROWD apprenticeship award secured in 2025 (split across three regional boards). The organization does not sell products or services in the conventional sense; it functions as a public-sector administrator, fiscal agent, and network orchestrator. Pricing mechanics, in the form of employer fees or participant tuition, are not part of the operating model.

Technology adoption is limited to standard government workforce infrastructure, primarily the statewide NCWorks online portal and the Employ case-management system, with no proprietary platform, AI/ML capability, or differentiated technical stack disclosed. The entity operates with a lean internal staff (five employees per the input), relying on its partner network — Durham Technical Community College, Durham Public Schools, employer partners such as Duke Health and NetApp, and community-based organizations — to deliver direct services.

Name

Durham Workforce Development Board

Legal name

Durham Workforce Development Board

Website

https://durhamworks.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Workforce Development, Employment Readiness & Job Placement (BPADAKAE)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Job seeker support
• Youth employment programs
• Employer hiring services
• Career training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Funding: Primary funding from federal WIOA grants administered through the NC Department of Commerce's Division of Workforce Solutions. The organization operates as a Local Area Workforce Development Board under WIOA guidelines.
2. Department of Labor Reentry Grant: $7.2 million grant from US Department of Labor through NC Department of Commerce's Division of Workforce Solutions for career and reentry services at Butner Federal Correctional Complex, equally divided among Durham, Capital Area, and Kerr-Tar Workforce Development Boards.
3. City of Durham Funding: Durham YouthWorks is funded by the City of Durham as a paid youth employment and workforce development program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Durham Workforce Development Board is a publicly-funded Local Area Workforce Development Board operating under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) that delivers job search assistance, career counseling, skills training, paid work experiences, and reentry support to job seekers in Durham, North Carolina, while connecting local employers with qualified talent, wage reimbursements, and training incentives.

Product overview

Durham Workforce Development Board operates as a unified platform of workforce development programs connecting job seekers and employers. The core offerings include NCWorks Career Center for adult job seekers (18+), Durham YouthWorks for youth (14-21) providing summer employment and training, NCWorks NextGen Durham for young adults (17-24) facing barriers, and NC PROWD for reentry services. Additional programs support employers with hiring solutions and community partners with collaboration opportunities. The organization functions as a government workforce development board rather than a commercial software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NCWorks Career Center: North Carolina's statewide workforce development system helping adults find jobs, upgrade skills, and advance careers.
• Durham YouthWorks
• NCWorks NextGen Durham
• NC PROWD (Partners for Reentry Opportunities in Workforce Development)

Products and services

• NCWorks Career Center

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 220 students completed MaryAnn Black Summer Internship Program at Duke University Health System, with 12+ returning to employment at DUHS
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Capital Area Workforce DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner in the $7.2 million NC PROWD grant, equally dividing reentry services responsibilities for individuals returning to the region from Butner Federal Correctional Complex. Together with Kerr-Tar, the three boards cover 11 counties.
• Kerr-Tar Workforce Development BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner in the $7.2 million NC PROWD grant, equally dividing reentry services responsibilities for individuals returning to the region from Butner Federal Correctional Complex. Together with Capital Area, the three boards cover 11 counties.
• NC Department of Commerce - Division of Workforce SolutionscoreOthersAdministers federal Department of Labor grants including the $7.2 million PROWD grant and WIOA funding to Durham Workforce Development Board. Primary federal funding source.
• Boys & Girls Club of DurhammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthWorks placement partner providing youth development and mentorship opportunities. Hosts Durham YouthWorks participants for work-based learning experiences.
• Duke HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthWorks placement partner providing healthcare exposure and medical field experience. Participant quote: 'Before YouthWorks, I didn't know what I wanted to do. Now I'm thinking about a career in healthcare.'
• The Bull City WoodshopmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthWorks placement partner providing hands-on craftsmanship and trade skills training opportunities for young people.
• Durham Center for Senior LifemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthWorks placement partner providing intergenerational programming and care experience opportunities.
• Durham Nativity SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthWorks placement partner providing educational support and tutoring opportunities.
• Kidznotes Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthWorks placement partner providing music education and arts programming opportunities.
• NCCU BRITE ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthWorks placement partner providing university collaboration and academic enrichment opportunities through North Carolina Central University.
• Salvation Army Youth CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthWorks placement partner providing community service and outreach initiatives.
• WestEnd Community Foundation (Camp Calvary)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthWorks placement partner providing youth camp leadership and recreation opportunities.
• Latino Community Credit UnionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking partner helping YouthWorks participants without bank accounts to open free youth checking accounts. Partnership ensures participants can receive program stipends.
• City of Durham - Cultural & Public Arts ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in youth mural project where YouthWorks participants collaborated with local artist Kiara Chatterjee to design and implement community mural at W.D. Hill Recreation Center.
• Durham Parks and RecreationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in youth mural project providing venue and programmatic support for YouthWorks participants' community art project.
• NetAppminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided AI Data Center tour (RTP location) for Minecraft STEM cohort participants, bridging classroom STEM concepts with real-world global technology careers.
• Duke University Health SystemmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaryAnn Black Summer Internship Program hosting 22+ students annually. Over 220 students have completed the program with 12+ returning to employment at DUHS. YouthWorks participants learn about 70+ medical professions with 90+ mentors.
• Durham Housing AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeeting location for Durham Workforce Development Board regular meetings. Provides space for quarterly board sessions open to the public.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Capital Area Workforce Development Board: Co-grantee on the $7.2M NC PROWD federal grant and fellow WIOA-designated Local Area Workforce Development Board in North Carolina. Operates the same WIOA Adult, Youth, and reentry program models in adjacent counties.
• Charlotte Works: WIOA-designated Local Area Workforce Development Board serving Mecklenburg County. Comparable operating model with NCWorks Career Center, youth (NextGen), employer services, and reentry programming at similar scale.
• GuilfordWorks (Greensboro/High Point WDB): WIOA-designated Local Area Workforce Development Board in North Carolina operating equivalent NCWorks, NextGen, and employer-focused programs. Comparable size, structure, and funding mix.
• Wake County NCWorks / Wake County Economic Development: Fellow WIOA-designated workforce development board serving the adjacent Wake County/Raleigh market with overlapping employer base (Duke, RTP employers). Operates NCWorks Career Center, youth, and employer programs structurally identical to Durham WDB.
• Kerr-Tar Workforce Development Board: Third co-grantee on the NC PROWD federal grant and fellow WIOA Local Area Workforce Development Board. Provides directly comparable WIOA Adult, Youth, and employer programs in north-central North Carolina.

Others

• Triangle J Council of Governments: Regional planning organization coordinating workforce, economic, and community development across the Triangle region. Adjacent to Durham WDB's employer and community partner engagement activities.

Broad incumbents

• NC Department of Commerce - Division of Workforce Solutions: State-level agency that administers federal WIOA and DOL funding flowing to Durham WDB. Sets policy, distributes grants, and oversees local WDBs across North Carolina.
• NCWorks Career Centers (NC Division of Workforce Solutions): State-administered system of which Durham WDB is a local affiliate. Sets statewide standards, branding, and funding allocations for all NC WDBs; Durham's NCWorks Career Center operates under this umbrella.

Emerging players

• Goodwill Industries of Eastern NC / Triangle Goodwill: Nonprofit workforce development provider operating in the same Durham/Triangle geography with overlapping job seeker segments, skills training, and employer partnerships. Partial overlap as an alternative service provider.
• Year Up: National nonprofit providing workforce training for young adults aged 18-24 facing barriers to employment — directly overlapping with Durham WDB's NextGen and YouthWorks target population. Comparable training-to-employment model with employer partnerships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/durhamworkforcedevelopment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/durham-workforce-development-board

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Durham Workforce Development Board