Duke Energy creates job training opportunities through $900,000 in grants to North Carolina community colleges

Rhea-AI Summary

Duke Energy has announced a grant of $903,828 to support apprenticeship programs at eight community colleges in North Carolina. This initiative fulfills the company's $5 million commitment made in 2017. Since 2004, Duke Energy has contributed a total of $45 million to community colleges in the state. The funding connects over 2,800 students with job opportunities, emphasizing the importance of community colleges in training the future workforce. The grants represent the final round of funding in the apprenticeship program, which was administered by local foundations.

Positive

• Duke Energy awarded $903,828 for apprenticeship programs, enhancing job training.
• Fulfillment of a $5 million commitment since 2017, showing consistent support for workforce development.
• Total funding to North Carolina community colleges has reached $45 million since 2004.
• Over 2,800 students connected with job opportunities through the apprenticeship program.

Negative

• None.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy today announced it has awarded $903,828 in grants to support apprenticeship job training programs at eight community colleges in North Carolina.

The grants fulfill the company's 2017 commitment to fund $5 million in apprenticeship programs at community colleges across the state.

Since 2004, Duke Energy has provided a total of $45 million in funding to North Carolina community colleges.

"We are so grateful for Duke Energy's support of our apprenticeship programs," said Peter Hans, president of the NC Community College System. "Students in the programs receive hands-on learning while earning a paycheck and gaining specialized skills. Apprenticeships have increased rapidly at community colleges because employers recognize their value in building the workforce of the future."

"North Carolina's community colleges are essential to train the workforce that businesses rely on," said Stephen De May, Duke Energy's North Carolina president. "As we partner to bring more companies to North Carolina and build a smarter energy future, community colleges are critical to upgrade workforce skills to meet new job demands."

The eight colleges below have received grant awards in this round of funding:

Community College	Program Name	Grant Award
Alamance Community College	Adults for Industrial Development	$179,000
Davidson County Community College	Davidson and Davie Apprenticeship Consortium	$125,000
Durham Technical Community College	Electrical Line Technician	$129,857
Forsyth Technical Community College	LEAP Forsyth Tech: Learn and Earn Apprenticeship	$50,000
Gaston College	Apprenticeship 321	$50,000
Surry Community College	Surry/Yadkin Apprenticeship	$45,500
Western Piedmont Community College	Apprenticeship Burke	$130,442
Wilkes Community College	Apprenticeship Wilkes	$194,029

These grants represent the sixth and final round of funding in the $5 million Duke Energy/Piedmont Natural Gas Community College Apprenticeship Grant program announced in April 2017. Through this program, 23 community colleges have received funding, connecting more than 2,800 student participants across 36 North Carolina counties with high-value job opportunities.

The apprenticeship grant program was administered by North Carolina Community Foundation and Foundation For The Carolinas. Award decisions were made by a committee of representatives from Duke Energy, North Carolina Community College System and North Carolina Department of Commerce.

Previous awards from the apprenticeship grant program include the community colleges listed below:

Blue Ridge Community College	Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute	Cape Fear Community College
Carteret Community College	Central Carolinas Community College	Cleveland Community College
Craven Community College	Davidson County Community College	Durham Technical Community College
Forsyth Technical Community College	Gaston College	Johnson Community College
Montgomery Community College	Pitt Community College	Randolph Community College
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College	South Piedmont Community College	Vance-Granville Community College
Wayne Community College	Western Piedmont Community College

Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 29,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities and 2,300 megawatts through its nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit.

Duke Energy is transforming its customers' experience, modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit's regulated utilities serve 7.8 million retail electric customers in six states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to 1.6 million customers in five states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The Duke Energy Renewables unit operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., as well as energy storage and microgrid projects.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2020 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "America's Best Employers" list. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Media contact: Meredith Archie
800.559.3853

 

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SOURCE Duke Energy

FAQ

What is the purpose of Duke Energy's $903,828 grant?

The grant supports apprenticeship job training programs at eight community colleges in North Carolina.

How much total funding has Duke Energy provided to North Carolina community colleges?

Duke Energy has provided a total of $45 million to community colleges in North Carolina since 2004.

When was Duke Energy's $5 million commitment for apprenticeship programs announced?

The $5 million commitment was announced in April 2017.

How many students have benefited from Duke Energy's apprenticeship program?

Over 2,800 students have connected with job opportunities through the apprenticeship program.

Which community colleges received grants from Duke Energy?

Eight community colleges in North Carolina received the recent grants, including Alamance and Davidson County Community Colleges.