Duke Energy invests more than $240,000 in programs to build energy industry workforce in South Carolina

- Initiatives include expanding engineering studies in public schools and giving college students hands-on access to latest industry equipment

- One unique project will create mobile career simulator to be used statewide

News provided by

Duke Energy

Jun 11, 2020, 12:43 ET

GREENVILLE, S.C., June 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Duke Energy Foundation has awarded more than $240,000 in grants to five South Carolina organizations focused on building and enhancing strategic engineering initiatives that will help grow the energy industry's workforce of tomorrow.

"We have a long history of targeting investments to have the greatest impact for our communities," said Mike Callahan, South Carolina state president for Duke Energy. "This year has proven a challenge for many education organizations and programs across the state. That's why it is even more critical today to continue that tradition and help strengthen the workforce pipeline needed to fuel the Palmetto State's economic engine now and in the years to come."

The grants were awarded to the following organizations:

Associated Industries of South Carolina Foundation: In partnership with the S.C. Chamber of Commerce, the funding will help build a mobile skilled-trades workshop that will house simulators and be deployed to schools, career fairs, trade shows and public and private events throughout the state.
Florence County School District 2: Supports the growth of the engineering pathway curriculum by adding a STEM club for girls in middle school and expanding Project Lead the Way engineering courses in high school.
Town of Summerton: In partnership with Greenville Technical College, the grant provides funding for the Summerton Hemp House Project, a student-led, green building project that serves as a catalyst for green industry employment and training opportunities using affordable housing and the environment as a context for learning.
S.C. Independent Colleges and Universities: Provides nine $5,000 scholarships to junior or senior engineering students at qualifying independent colleges and universities in Duke Energy's service areas.
Francis Marion University: Supports creation of an Engineering Makerspace that will provide a valuable resource giving students the opportunity to be creative while becoming familiar with contemporary design and manufacturing equipment in use in industry.

"Francis Marion University has thrived on partnerships in the community and few partners have made a greater impact on the university than Duke Energy," said Dr. Fred Carter, the university's president. "Duke Energy has helped with resources for everything from nuclear engineering labs to support for children's programming at the Performing Arts Center. This latest grant will help us construct a wonderful space on campus that will foster generations of innovative thinkers and future leaders who'll make our state and region a better place to live and work."

The Duke Energy Foundation funds more than $2 million annually to nonprofit organizations in South Carolina. In addition, the Foundation has focused on ways to assist customers and communities with more than $400,000 in direct COVID-19 relief in the Palmetto State. These funds support hunger relief, local health and human services, education initiatives and bill assistance for low-income customers.

More information about the foundation can be found at duke-energy.com/foundation.

Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation contributes more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts and is funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information about the Foundation and its Powerful Communities program can be found at duke-energy.com/foundation.

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 30,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities, and 3,000 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 approximately 7.7 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 more than 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' 2019 "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.

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SOURCE Duke Energy