Duke Energy held a press conference Aug. 12 announcing its $6.7 million investment in the North Carolina Community College system through expansion of the Duke Energy Foundation’s grants program. NCCF will administer grants for community colleges in the Duke Energy/Progress customer region. Foundation for the Carolinas will administer grants in the Duke Energy/Carolinas customer area. (See below for program and application information.)

The funds are available to community colleges throughout the state to further NC Community Colleges’ focus on technical education and support of business and industry.

“Partnerships are critical in meeting the workforce needs of North Carolina’s business community, and we are grateful for our ongoing collaboration with Duke Energy,” said Dr. Scott Ralls, president of the NC Community College System.

Paul Newton, Duke Energy state president – North Carolina, said our community college system is key to creating a skilled workforce and thriving busines climate. “We’re committed to developing a workforce that attracts new industries to our state and expands the capabilities of the industries already here.”

NCCF CEO and President Jennifer Tolle Whiteside said the Foundation was honored to partner with Duke Energy to support the state’s community college system.

Program overview

Duke Energy established the Community College Grant Program to support workforce training programs that would help recruit new and retain existing industries in North Carolina. The program will provide grants to community and technical colleges in Duke Energy’s service area. These grants provide a financial boost that helps enable community colleges to extend their expertise, to provide rewarding opportunities for students and, ultimately, to help revitalize manufacturing and other target industries in the region. The maximum amount for an individual grant is $250,000. The funds must be used within 24 months of award date.

A grant committee representing the NC Department of Commerce, NC Community College System and Duke Energy will review and award the grants. Foundation for the Carolinas and the North Carolina Community Foundation administer the program on behalf of Duke Energy.

Eligibility

Grants from the Duke Energy Community College Grant Program are awarded to North Carolina community and technical colleges in Duke Energy’s service area that provide training for manufacturing, related industries served by Duke Energy or for sectors aligned with Duke Energy’s economic development focus areas.

Grants may also be awarded to community and technical colleges that provide capacity-building to benefit regional manufacturing and related industries. These projects will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Timeline

Applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis by the Grant Committee. Grant cycles close at 12:00 p.m. on the last working day of each fiscal quarter. Closing dates and times for 2013 and 2014 grant cycles are listed below.

Last day quarter                Grant cycle closes

September 30, 2013           Monday, September 30 at 12:00 p.m.

December 31, 2013            Tuesday, December 31 at 12:00 p.m.

March 31, 2014                  Monday, March 31 at 12:00 p.m.

June 30, 2014                    Monday, June 30 at 12:00 p.m.

September 30, 2014           Tuesday, September 30 at 12:00 p.m.

December 31, 2014            Wednesday, December 31 at 12:00 p.m.

Grants submitted by 12:00 p.m. on the last working day of a calendar quarter are generally approved or declined by the end of the following quarter. Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed in the next quarter. Additionally, some applications may be postponed for consideration at a future meeting. If the Grant Committee has elected to postpone the review of an application, staff will notify the applicant. The Grant Committee reserves the right to establish more frequent review and approval of applications should emerging needs arise.

Application process

Grant applications are accepted online. Click here to access further instructions about the online application process.