Duke Energy awards more than $200,000 in grants for workforce education and training across Greater Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, June 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy today announced $203,315 in grants to eight organizations focused on workforce development across Greater Cincinnati. The primary objective of the funding is to support new and expanded education and training programs to prepare the next generation of energy workers across the region.

"Even though the U.S. and local job markets are strong, America's energy needs continue to grow and evolve, requiring a future workforce with new skills and abilities," said Amy Spiller, Duke Energy's president in Ohio and Kentucky. "We're preparing Greater Cincinnati residents for this new energy economy by equipping them with the knowledge and abilities needed to have successful careers in the energy sector."

Recent studies from the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Labor show that 25%-50% of utility employees will retire within the next five to 10 years. Among Duke Energy's nearly 30,000 employees nationwide, 42% will be eligible to retire in five years and 54% will be eligible to retire in 10 years. "Eligible to retire" is defined as 55 years of age or older with at least five years of service.

"Funding these workforce initiatives is just one way Duke Energy is building a talent pipeline that will power our regional economy for years to come," said Spiller. "We also provide significant financial support annually for Greater Cincinnati programs that prevent summer reading loss while also advancing energy, engineering and environmental education among K-12 students."

RELATED: Duke Energy commits nearly $265,000 to support dynamic education initiatives across Greater Cincinnati.

Here are details about the eight workforce development grants announced earlier today during an event at Gateway Community and Technical College in Florence, Ky.

    --  Workforce development growth via GROW NKY - $50,000The Growing Regional
        Outcomes through Workforce for Northern Kentucky (GROW NKY) initiative
        will apply its $50,000 grant to support comprehensive, holistic
        workforce development and talent strategy, which is focused on
        leveraging the community's full complement of assets to grow, attract
        and retain a globally competitive workforce. Led by the Northern
        Kentucky Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with a variety of workforce
        partners, the initiative focuses on ensuring Northern Kentucky can
        attract future businesses and retain current businesses as a result of a
        strategic workforce effort.



    --  Power Lineman Academy at Grant Career Center - $50,000Grant Career
        Center in Bethel, Ohio, will use its Duke Energy workforce development
        grant to launch a training program for men and women who aim to become
        utility line technicians. Through the Power Lineman Academy, individuals
        will receive hands-on education related to the delivery of electricity
        to homes and businesses. Training will focus on electrical and
        construction safety, the erection of power lines, components of power
        grid equipment, and the general maintenance and operation of the
        electric grid.



    --  Lineworker certificate at Gateway Community and Technical College -
        $32,315The Duke Energy grant will allow Gateway Community and Technical
        College in Northern Kentucky to create an accelerated utility lineworker
        certificate program designed to train individuals who desire to become
        utility lineworkers. The 16-credit-hour program will incorporate the
        college's energy technology curriculum with expansive training and
        equipment. Upon completion of the accelerated certificate, students will
        have an understanding of the skills, knowledge, safe work practices and
        physical ability required to become line technician apprentices.



    --  Upgraded electrical engineering labs at University of Cincinnati -
        $25,000University of Cincinnati's department of electrical engineering
        and computer science will use its Duke Energy grant to purchase new
        equipment for the school's electric power and power electronics
        laboratories. The equipment will allow students to gain hands-on
        education and experience using state-of-the-art electricity delivery
        equipment. In addition, the upgraded labs will enable the school to
        accept 20 additional students per year into its three core electrical
        engineering and lab courses, support the development and recruitment for
        a new Master of Engineering in Sustainability degree program, and offer
        one-day advanced training sessions for current utility workers.



    --  Energy career discovery with NaviGo - $15,000 Students often don't have
        real experience in their selected career path until they've completed
        additional training or accepted a position. With the help of NaviGo
        Scholars, students can explore and investigate career paths while
        they're still in high school, informing their decisions for the future.
        Through its partnership with Duke Energy, NaviGo will expose students to
        career opportunities in the energy industry - and help staff the next
        generation of careers in the energy industry.



    --  Expand hands-on career experiences via Greater Cincinnati Construction
        Foundation - $11,000The Greater Cincinnati Construction Foundation's
        "Constructing a Pathway Out of Poverty" initiative aims to increase
        access to and participation in hands-on career experiences for
        Cincinnati Public Schools students in grades 10 through 12. The Duke
        Energy workforce development grant will enable the foundation to expand
        the project-based learning program to additional schools and students,
        and provide support of school employability initiatives and students'
        transitions to technical jobs.



    --  New enhanced operator training program for the Northern Kentucky
        Community Action Commission - $10,000The Northern Kentucky Community
        Action Commission's YouthBuild program works with young adults to create
        a place where they can complete their secondary education, prepare for
        post-secondary education, and gain valuable life and career skills.
        While enrolled with the program, participants are encouraged to grow and
        develop to their full potential and find their true value. YouthBuild
        will apply its $10,000 grant from Duke Energy to add an enhanced
        operator certificate training program in cooperation with Gateway
        Community and Technical College. The program will enable up to 32
        participants to earn certification and 14 college credit hours toward an
        associate's degree in manufacturing engineering technology, electrical
        technology or industrial maintenance technology. On completing the
        program, participants will qualify for entry-level manufacturing jobs or
        paid apprenticeship programs, helping themselves and their families
        advance toward financial self-sufficiency.

    --  Pre-apprenticeship program at Warren County Educational Service Center -
        $10,000A $10,000 Duke Energy grant will enable Warren County Educational
        Service Center in Ohio, in collaboration with the NaviGo Scholars
        program, to expand its career exploration opportunities for at-risk
        students. Participants will engage in innovative programming designed to
        increase awareness of in-demand jobs via weekly tours of local
        businesses and career coaching. The goals for the program are for
        students to increase their knowledge of career opportunities and
        increase their interest in pursuing careers in high-demand technical
        fields.

Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky
Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides electric service to about 860,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in a 3,000-square-mile service area, and natural gas service to approximately 538,000 customers.

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 2019 "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.

Contact: Lee Freedman
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

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SOURCE Duke Energy