The Duke Energy Foundation has awarded a $40,000 grant to the Foundation of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute in support of the college’s Electrical Lineworker program.
CCC&TI was one of 11 North Carolina community colleges to receive funding as part of Duke Energy’s $350,000 investment to create a pipeline of skilled lineworkers to help meet the energy industry’s future workforce needs.
“We truly appreciate Duke Energy’s generosity and dedication to CCC&TI’s mission, our students and the communities we serve,” CCC&TI President Dr. Mark Poarch said of the ongoing support. “Duke Energy has been a key supporter since the launch of our Electrical Lineworker program more than a decade ago. Not only did they advise us on building the program, Duke Energy provided equipment, has hired many of our graduates and supported construction of an indoor training facility on our campus.”
The funds will be used by grantees for diversity recruitment, equipment, materials and program marketing. The Duke Energy Foundation has awarded more than $6.7 million over the past five years in support of workforce development programs with a focus on the energy sector.
Robin Nicholson, Duke Energy Corporation’s Government and Community Relations District Manager, made a formal presentation to college officials on Dec. 15.
“The Lineworker program at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute has continually provided targeted and expert training and has graduated exceptional candidates for lineworker positions,” Nicholson said. “Duke Energy applauds these efforts and is pleased to be able to provide additional funding to further support and grow these efforts.”
CCC&TI’s Electrical Lineworker program, which is offered on the Caldwell Campus in Hudson as part of the Energy Institute, prepares students for a career as an apprentice for a Journeyman Lineworker. Students develop the knowledge and skills to install, operate, maintain and repair indoor and outdoor residential, commercial and industrial electrical systems, and associated power transmission lines.
The 20-week program has attracted students from across the country and boasts a nearly 100-percent job placement rate for graduates. CCC&TI recently expanded the Energy Institute with the launch of a Substation Technician training program. The 8-week Substation Technician program prepares students for a career as a substation maintenance technician or a substation relay technician.
Anyone interested in registering for CCC&TI’s Electrical Lineworker or Substation Technician programs can visit www.cccti.edu/coned or call 828-726-2242 for more information.
About Duke Energy
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States. Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure business unit serves approximately 7.5 million customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. The company’s Gas Utilities and Infrastructure business unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its Commercial Renewables business unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the United States. Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
