Duke Energy helps fund workforce development initiative

A $4.11 million grant from Duke Energy to Clemson’s Center for Workforce Development will fund initiatives in South Carolina to help provide a next-generation workforce in key cluster areas. The grant will be used to manage educational, research and outreach activities in support of workforce development and STEM education. The Center for Workforce Development will oversee distribution of these funds to partner institutions that include universities, technical colleges, K-12 institutions and STEM-oriented organizations through competitive grants, scholarships and internships.
The goal is to spur job growth by helping develop a labor force with specific skills in STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — and specifically in advanced manufacturing to support South Carolina’s burgeoning manufacturing industry.“Duke Energy recognizes that workforce development and economic development go hand in hand,” said Clark Gillespy, Duke Energy state president – South Carolina. “The Center for Workforce Development, through its far-reaching partnerships, addresses the challenges of creating next-generation engineers, technicians and scientists so the region and nation can continue to be competitive in a global marketplace.”
The center’s e-learning initiatives focus on creating innovative educational tools — aligned with industry employment needs — to increase workforce capacity. The center also supports working professionals who wish to upgrade their skills and further their qualifications.