Establishes the NC Communities Advancing Real Development by Investing in Newly Accomplished Leaders, or CARDINAL, Corps Program (Program) to expand opportunities for selected individuals by providing fellowship funds to support entry into critical, high-need sectors facing shortages including disaster relief and recovery, education, public safety, public service, farming and food security, and services to military families and veterans. Specifies that the Program will (1) allow host recipients, including businesses, schools, local governments, and private nonprofit organizations, to participate in fellowships to meet their needs, assist with financial challenges, and ease employment demands in their local communities and (2) provide opportunities to fellows that can lead to certifications, licensing, or an associate degree in a career field and, ultimately, full-time employment. Specifies that a host recipient is eligible for reimbursement of funds used for a fellowship if the host offers a qualifying fellowship to an individual who is either within the first two years immediately following (1) high school graduation or completion of general education development (GED) or (2) a United States military deployment. Sets forth six qualifying fellowships including disaster relief and recovery, public safety, farming and food security, and military families and veterans.

Directs the NCWorks Commission (NCWorks) of the Department of Commerce (DOC) to administer the fellowship program for host recipients that are businesses, schools, local governments, or private nonprofit organizations conducting business in this state and that offer qualifying fellowships to individuals. Allocates the funds appropriated as follows: (1) 50% for the salary and program expenses of fellows that are in their first two years immediately following high school graduation or completion of GED and (2) 50% for those expenses for fellows that are in their first two years immediately following a military deployment.

Provides matching to host recipients on the basis of $1 in non-State funds for every $1 of State funds, for the expenses specified. Limits State funds to a weekly pay of $600. Authorizes reimbursement of up to $30,200 per fellow for each fiscal year for the specified program expenses when matching funds are made available by a host recipient. Specifies that each fellowship is for a period of nine consecutive months, upon which fellows shall also be paid a completion award of $5,000. Provides for a biannual fellows conference hosted by NCWorks as described. Directs NCWorks to submit a report by June 15, 2026, and annually each year thereafter to the specified NCGA committee and the Fiscal Research Division on the fellowship program. Declares the General Assembly’s intent to continue growing the Program at a rate of an additional 100 fellows per year until 1,000 individuals are participating annually, the rate to maintain the Program.

Appropriates $1,485,000 from the General Fund to DOC to implement the Program. Encourages DOC to seek philanthropic contributions from private foundations to supplant these funds to the extent possible.

Effective July 1, 2025.