Duke Energy Foundation Awards US$734,000 in Grants to Support Workforce Development

Duke Energy is investing US$734,000 in strategic workforce development and education programs in Florida.

The Duke Energy Foundation grants will help job seekers and students who are members of underrepresented groups, such as women and minorities, to prepare for employment, primarily in the energy sector. This support will further bolster and expand the state's existing skilled workforce.

"These grants support vital programs and help develop a diverse workforce needed to strengthen our communities and economies today and in the future," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president.

One of this year's recipients is the University of Florida and its Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. The university is receiving a US$100,000 grant to create the Energy Sustainability, Technology and Resiliency Testing Hub and Certificate Program.

"We greatly appreciate Duke Energy's generosity and foresight in making this gift," said Dr. Jonathan Scheffe, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of Florida. "It will enable an exciting new pathway for students who want to build an engineering career in energy sustainability and resiliency. Students will learn about state-of-the-art, climate-friendly technologies that reflect the future needs of energy."

The university plans to use the grant to provide scholarship opportunities for students who are earning a Sustainable and Resilient Energy Engineering Certificate at the University of Florida's Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering.

All of the grants are administered through the Duke Energy Foundation, which is investing in workforce programs in the energy sector to help build the next-generation workforce, as well as create access to training and job skills programs that meet community needs today.

Grant recipients, programs, awards

Statewide

Florida Chapter of American Association of Blacks in Energy — 10th Annual Youth Energy Academy, Black Energy Awareness Month initiative and scholarships (US$28,000)

Greater Tampa Bay area

AmSkills Inc. — AmSkills High School Pre-apprenticeship Program (US$23,000)
Citrus County Education Foundation — Foundation for Success Projects (US$6000)
Florida Polytechnic University Foundation — Transformer and Transformer Stations for new Cybersecurity Engineering Program (US$25,000)
Pasco-Hernando State College Foundation — Elevating Engineering Achievement, Career Attainment and Minority Student Readiness in Pasco and Hernando Counties (US$40,000)
Pinellas County Urban League Inc. — Duke Energy Lineworker Diversity Initiative (US$15,000)
Project Prosper — A financial literacy program tailored to the unique needs of refugees and immigrants (US$10,000)
St. Petersburg College Foundation — Electrical Lineworker Program (US$50,000)
University of South Florida Foundation — Call Me MISTER initiative aimed at increasing the number of male teachers of color in local elementary schools (US$50,000)
South Florida State College Hardee Campus — Increasing Training Opportunities for Electrical Lineworker Students by Expanding Training Capacity and Improving Safety (US$30,000)

Greater Orlando area

Adult Literacy League Inc. — Creating a Stronger Workforce Through Improved Literacy Program (US$10,000)
Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida — Workforce Alliance for Youth (US$20,000)
Boys and Girls Club of Volusia County — Junior Staff Program (US$9960)
Central Florida Urban League — Workforce Upskilling and Reskilling Program (US$10,000)
Education Foundation of Osceola County — Career Pipeline (US$20,000)
Foundation for Seminole State College — Workforce Jumpstart 2021 (US$25,000)
Hispanic Heritage Fund of Metro Orlando — Engineering scholarships and student programming (US$24,000)
Lake-Sumter State College Foundation — Drone, Relay Tech and Lineworker Training Program for Energy Sector Workers (US$75,000)
University of Central Florida — Support for College of Engineering and Computer Science Projects: Girls Excelling in Math and Science mentorship program, DE&I program and Senior Design Projects (US$75,000)
Valencia College Foundation — Scholarships and Outreach for the Valencia College, Accelerated Skills Training, Electric Powerline Technician Program (US$50,000)

Greater Tallahassee/Gainesville area

Boys and Girls Club of North Central Florida — BGC Energy Drone Program (US$22,500)
Career Source North Florida — Power and Energy Program (US$10,000)
Education Foundation of Gulf County — Science STEMulation (US$5000)
University of Florida — Energy Sustainability, Technology and Resiliency Testing Hub and Certificate Program (US$100,000)