RELEASE DATE: November 24, 2008
CONTACT: Audrey K. Bailey baileya@nccommunitycolleges.edu
PHONE: (919) 807-6963 - office - (919) 247-7149 - cell
Duke Energy continues powerful support of community colleges
RALEIGH -- Five North Carolina community colleges will share more than $1.17 million dollars in manufacturing enhancement grants from the Duke Energy Community College Grant Program.
Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem will receive $249,439 to fund an analytical training center. McDowell Technical Community College in Marion will receive $250,000 to enhance machining programs and to recruit more students to this manufacturing field. Mitchell Community College in Statesville will receive $177,500 to fund an advanced integrated manufacturing system lab. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in Salisbury will receive $250,000 to purchase equipment for an aseptic bioprocessing suite on the North Carolina Research Campus. Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro will receive $250,000 to support an applied technology center.
“We are especially grateful for this vital support from one of our most important funding partners,” said Dr. Scott Ralls, president of the North Carolina Community Colleges. “This generous investment will help to enhance essential manufacturing programs in the respective communities. This is so important, especially in these tough economic times.”
Ralls serves on the Duke Community College Grant Program advisory committee, which awards the grants. Jim Fain, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce, and Ronnie Taylor, Regional Director of Business & Community Relations, Duke Energy Carolinas and a leader on Duke Energy’s business relations and economic development team, are also on the committee.
Duke Energy began its Community and Technical College Grant Program in 2004. This month’s awards bring the number of grants to 39, with a total investment of more than $8.5 million and more than $5 million available for future grants. Committee members say the most important outcome for measuring the program’s success is the number of manufacturing jobs created, retained or enhanced by funded projects.
“We believe the North Carolina community college system is an essential partner in addressing the critical workforce needs in our region,” said Ellen Ruff, President, Duke Energy Carolinas. “We’re proud that this grant program has brought dramatic benefits to employers, better paying jobs for workers, and enhanced economic development across our region.”
Left to right: Dr. Gordon Burns, Wilkes CC, Dr. Carol Spalding, Rowan-Cabarrus CC, Ronnie Taylor,
Duke Energy Carolinas, and Dr. Arnold Hence Forsyth Technical CC.
Three recipient college administrators had the chance to personally thank Duke Energy for the support. Dr. Carol Spaulding, president at Rowan-Cabarrus CC, Dr. Gordon Burns, president at Wilkes CC, and Dr. Arnold Hence, executive vice president at Forsyth Technical CC met Ronnie G. Taylor, and conveyed their appreciation for the funding that will make such a difference for their respective colleges. The four were attending a community college awards luncheon last week.
Projects funded through the grant, which has a maximum individual award of $250,000, must address training, retraining and other efforts to strengthen manufacturing. Also, they must fall within Duke Energy's service area, which is concentrated in the Piedmont manufacturing corridor and in the mountains. Twenty-nine community colleges are located in the Duke service area.
With this latest round, 23 North Carolina community colleges (full list below) have received Duke Power grants. According to Foundation for the Carolinas reports, a conservative estimate of the number of manufacturing jobs created by employers participating in the funded projects is approximately a thousand, with at least 3800 retained, thanks to improved productivity.
For details on the Duke Energy Community College Grant Program, visit the Website at http://www.duke-energy.com/community/education/community-technical-college-grants.asp
November 2008
McDowell TCC $250,000 Machining
Recruitment and Enhancement Project
Rowan-Cabarrus CC $250,000 NC Research Center
Aseptic Bioprocessing Suite Project
Forsyth Technical CC $249,439 Analytical Training
Center
Wilkes CC $250,000 Applied
Technology Center
Mitchell CC $177,500 Advanced
Integrated Manufacturing Systems (AIMS) Lab
August 2008
Guilford TCC $243,958 Avionics
Technician Training
Central Piedmont CC $250,000 Advanced
Manufacturing/Integrated Systems Technology
South Piedmont CC $247,750 Integrated Systems
Technology - Workforce
Blue Ridge CC $250,000 Manufacturing
and Machining Enhancement
Cleveland CC $250,000 Welding Program
Upgrade and Expansion
Forsyth CC $197,372 Advanced
Manufacturing through Supply Chain Management
McDowell Tech CC $219,464 Welding Enhancement
and Expansion
2007
Tri-County CC $237,500 Customized
Workforce Development Training
Asheville-Buncombe TCC $238,046 Resurgent Manufacturing
Initiative
Caldwell CC and TI $250,000 Information
Technology Institute
South Piedmont CC $229,060 21st Century
Machinist Training
Alamance CC $246,194 State of the Art
Integrated Systems Technology Training
Davidson County CC $250,000 Automation
Technology Lab Expansion
Gaston College $249,789 CNC Million &
Turning Training
Isothermal CC $250,000 Welding Program
Enhancement
Guilford TCC $193,150 CNC Milling and
Turning Training
2006
Alamance CC $235,512 State of the Art
Machinist Technology Training
Guilford TCC $125,350 Sustaining
Manufacturing Workforce through Workkeys
Isothermal CC $250,000 Training and
Development for Manufacturing Industries
Forsyth TCC $ 46,288 Skills
Upgrade for Manufacturing Maintenance Employees
Isothermal CC $180,000 Building
Construction Trades
Randolph CC $244,200 State of the Art
CNC Training
2005
Davidson County CC $250,000 Employee
Recruitment and Training
Vance-Granville CC $108,376 Solectron
Creedmoor Job Retention
Blue Ridge CC $ 60,000 BioWorks for Gaia
Herbs
Isothermal CC $216,500 Training and
Development for Manufacturing Technologies
and
Certifications
Cleveland CC $250,000 Multi-Craft
Maintenance Training
Gaston College $173,626 Biotechnology
Capacity-Building
Catawba Valley CC $239,881 Putting the Catawba
Valley to Work
Central Piedmont CC $124,442 Solectron Job
Retention and Training
Western Piedmont CC $175,067 Henredon Furniture
Industries Job Retention
2004
Forsyth TCC $248,600 Industrial
Systems Technology Training
Tri-County CC $136,030 Machinist
Journeyman Training
Central Piedmont CC $240,821 Advanced
Manufacturing/Integrated Systems Technology
North Carolina’s community colleges open the
door to high-quality, accessible educational opportunities that
minimize barriers to post-secondary education. The colleges offer
associate degrees, college transfer programs, job training,
literacy, and adult education. The colleges maximize student
success, prepare a competitive workforce that can succeed on a
global stage, and offer services that improve the lives and
well-being of individuals in their communities.
Duke Energy, headquartered in Charlotte, is one of the largest electric power companies in the United States. The company delivers energy to approximately 4 million U.S. customers. Duke Energy has approximately 35,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity in the Midwest and the Carolinas, and natural gas distribution services in Ohio and Kentucky. The Duke Energy Foundation improves the quality of life in communities through volunteerism, leadership and financial support through grants to charitable organizations.
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