Duke Energy awards workforce development grants

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The Duke Energy Foundation is awarding more than $300,000 in grants to more than a dozen organizations throughout the state. The foundation said the funding will support continued efforts to provide job search, education and specialized training opportunities for residents.

The grants to the 16 recipients range from $10,000 to $50,000.

Among the recipients is the Vincennes University Foundation, which will receive $50,000 to provide scholarships for students enrolled in the university’s new Electric Battery Technician Training Program.

“The most important investment we can make is in the people and communities we serve,” Duke Energy Indiana President Stan Pinegar said in a news release. “Our Workforce Development Program grants aim to meet the needs of local employers while also providing resources and education to individuals to set them up for success in the workforce of the future.”

The grant recipients are:

• Developmental Services Inc. (Howard County) – $20,000. Funds will support workforce development training for individuals with disabilities.
• Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation (Hamilton County) – $10,000.  Funds will support the expansion of educational opportunities at the Fishers Agripark, including the installation of an aquaponics lab and a composter powered by renewable energy.
• Huntington University (Huntington County) – $10,000. Funds will equip Huntington University students with hands-on training to master skills needed for the Veterinary Technician National Exam to become registered veterinary technicians.
• Ivy Tech Foundation (Johnson County) – $30,000. Funds will support the purchase of programmable logic controllers for Ivy Tech Franklin’s Advanced Manufacturing Lab. This state-of-the-art lab will be used to teach courses in industrial technology and advanced automation and robotics.
• Jefferson Community and Technical College Foundation (Southeast Indiana) – $15,000. Funds will support Jefferson Community & Technical College’s Utility Technician Certificate program with the purchase of new equipment, materials and supplies that will enhance instruction and deepen students’ learning experience.
• New Albany Floyd County Schools/Prosser Career Education Center (Floyd County) – $15,000. Funds will provide career development services for area high school students to meet the region’s workforce needs. 
• Purdue University (Bartholomew County) – $30,000. Funds will support the development of an electric vehicle technology certificate program, with specialized tracks available in electric vehicle development and service.
• Sheridan Community Schools (Hamilton County) – $10,000. Funds will support various activities to expose students to careers in the energy industry.
• Southeast Indiana Workforce Investment Board (Dearborn County) – $15,000. Funds will support individuals impacted by substance misuse with reintegration into the workforce, providing opportunities for occupational training and placement in high-wage, in-demand occupations.
• Spencer-Owen County Economic Development Corporation (Owen County) – $25,000. Funds will support upskill training for Owen County residents and small business owners. Five training sessions will cover social media mastery, teamwork and interpersonal skills, QuickBooks and Excel training, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and digital branding.
• Stonegate Arts & Education Center (Lawrence County) – $10,000. Funds will support a fall and spring camp for local high school students to learn about career opportunities in skilled trades.
• The Pursuit Institute (Hamilton County) – $25,000. Funds will support the development of a mobile classroom to teach local pre-kindergarten through 10th grade students about sustainable energy.
• Turning Point SOC (Howard County) – $20,000. Funds will support Recovery Café Kokomo’s Skill Up program, which offers individuals recovering from substance abuse and mental health issues a path to employment with post-secondary education, certifications and licenses.
• United Way of Central Indiana (Morgan County) – $10,000. Funds will support the YMCA of Morgan County’s Center for Working Families program, which serves individuals and families with complimentary services designed to increase their economic mobility, including employment placement support and post-secondary training.
• Vincennes University Foundation (Knox County) – $50,000. Funds will provide scholarships for students enrolled in Vincennes University’s newly launched Electric Battery Technician Training program. The first-of-its-kind pilot program will be at WestGate@Crane Technology Park in Martin County, Ind.
• Wabash College (Montgomery County) – $15,000. Funds will support professional development opportunities for students to pursue career paths in engineering, energy and the environment.