Duke Energy Foundation Invests $180,000 for Workforce Training in SC

Meeting the demands of South Carolina's continued growth will require more than new infrastructure. It will require a skilled workforce ready to build it, and to help strengthen that talent pipeline, Duke Energy Foundation is awarding $180,000 in grants to nine technical colleges across the state. The grants will help to expand construction-related training, enhance hands-on learning opportunities, and support industry-recognized certifications in high-demand fields.

"Projects like our new natural gas facility in Anderson County will help power South Carolina's growth while creating good jobs in the communities we serve," said Tim Pearson, Duke Energy South Carolina president. "The construction of that facility over the next few years will need potentially thousands of highly skilled trade workers to complete, and these grants will help ensure local students and workers are prepared to compete for those opportunities."

Each of these schools received a $20,000 grant that supports workforce training programs, welding tools, materials and supplies for electrician programs and more. You can find a full list of projects here.

• Central Carolina Technical College

• Florence-Darlington Technical College

• Greenville Technical College

• Northeastern Technical College

• Piedmont Technical College

• Spartanburg Community College

• Tri-County Technical College

• Williamsburg Technical College

• York Technical College

"Florence-Darlington Technical College is grateful to have Duke Energy as a partner providing funds for our Electrician Program," said Debbie Cheek, interim president of Florence-Darlington Technical College. "Construction is one of the fastest growing sectors in the Pee Dee, yet nearly half of construction firms cite labor shortages as the leading cause of project delays. SC DEW has recognized 'electricians' as a workforce priority, recognizing the importance of electricians on the workforce now and in the future. With the help of Duke Energy and its support of FDTC's electrician program, we are helping to fill the demand for highly skilled electricians."

Since 2016, Duke Energy Foundation has invested $5.4 million in these types of initiatives across South Carolina.