RALEIGH -- Wake Technical Community College will share in a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant as part of a national project to boost graduation rates.

The announcement was made Thursday. Wake Tech is one of five North Carolina community colleges to share in the prize, which begins with $500,000 for planning. The others are Guilford Tech, Central Piedmont, Martin and Davidson community colleges.

It's unclear how much Gates money the North Carolina colleges will ultimately receive, because the awards will be based on the five-year projects as they are planned.