桑福德,N.C. - 中央卡罗莱纳社区学院 has announced a $199,490 investment from 杜克能源公司 and Piedmont Natural Gas. The funds will be used to connect students with hands-on training and career development opportunities.

The investment will be used to fund tuition for students participating in area apprenticeships and will allow for significant equipment updates to the following programs at 在线电子游戏网赌 -- Welding Technologies, 计算机综合加工, 工业系统技术.

"Apprenticeships are a key strategy for our community to help solve labor market's challenges and create a workforce for the future,”医生说。. Brian S Merritt, 在线电子游戏网赌 Vice President of Learning & 员工发展. "We are grateful to 杜克能源公司 for this generous gift, we look forward to working with our industry partners to help create new work-based learning opportunities for our students."

Area industry or business leaders -- in any occupational sector -- who are interested in hosting an apprentice or participating in the apprenticeship consortium can contact Drew Goodson, 在线电子游戏网赌职业学院院长 & 技术教育，在919.718.7445或电邮至 dgoodson@预备.edu.

"It's important that we support programs that strengthen the pipeline of highly-skilled workers who will move North Carolina forward,英迪拉·埃弗雷特说, 区域经理, 杜克能源公司. "Our investments come full circle when many of the students go on to work for area industries, those industries then gain skilled workers trained to meet specific, 当地的需求."

This grant is part of 杜克能源公司's $35 million investment in North Carolina's 社区 大学s' focus on technical education and support of business and industry. Individual community colleges could apply for funds through the North Carolina 社区 基金会 and the 基金会 for the Carolinas. Applications were reviewed by a committee of representatives from 杜克能源公司, NC 社区 大学 System and NC Department of Commerce.

About 中央卡罗莱纳社区学院

中央卡罗莱纳社区学院 offers a wide variety of programs at its three campus locations and multiple instructional locations throughout 查塔姆, 哈尼特, 和李县.

在这些项目中, students can earn associate degrees or college transfer credits, 文凭, 或证书. Some programs are offered entirely, or in part, via online distance education. 课程 also are available in such areas as Short-term Job Training, 大学 & Career Readiness, Personal Interests, Business & Industry, Emergency 服务 Training are available. 欲了解更多信息，请访问 www.预备.edu.

关于杜克能源基金会

The 杜克能源公司 基金会 provides philanthropic support to address the needs of the communities where its customers live and work. The foundation provides more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts. The foundation's education focus spans kindergarten to career, 特别是科学, 技术, 工程与数学(STEM), early childhood literacy and workforce development. It also supports the environment and community impact initiatives, including arts and culture.

杜克能源公司 employees and retirees actively contribute to their communities as volunteers and leaders at a wide variety of nonprofit organizations. 杜克能源公司 is committed to building on its legacy of community service. 欲了解更多信息，请访问 www.杜克能源公司.com/foundation.

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