(PLAINFIELD) – Duke Energy, through its shareholder-funded foundation, is awarding over $220,000 in grants to support 15 workforce development programs in nine Indiana counties.
The grants support workforce education and training programs that address the most pressing skills gaps in the communities the company serves.
“We recognize that, for a variety of reasons, not all people have equal access to the same educational and training opportunities as others,” said Stan Pinegar, Duke Energy state president for Indiana. “We can help improve that access by making investments in training and education where it is needed most.”
Examples of the programs supported by these grants include:
- A $15,000 grant to the Heartland Career Center in Wabash County to expand the center’s educational footprint to become the first adult training facility within a 30-mile radius in the region
- A $19,900 grant to the Community Education Coalition in Bartholomew County to expand work-based learning programs and launch career awareness and outreach strategies to successfully grow the pipeline of skilled workers in the area
- A $25,000 grant to Bona Vista Programs and its pre-employment transition services in Howard County to support individuals with disabilities to successfully learn necessary skills for community employment
Below is the full list of the organizations, locations and the grants they received:
| Program | Description | County | Grant Amount | ||||
| The ARC of Indiana Foundation Erskine Green Training Institute | Offers post-secondary vocational opportunities for Duke Energy customers with disabilities to empower them and lead to meaningful employment | Delaware/Duke Energy-served counties | $30,000 | ||||
| Bona Vista ProgramsWorkforce Development Programs: Pre-Employment Transition Services and Opportunity Knocks! | Support individuals with disabilities to successfully learn necessary skills for community employment | Howard | $25,000 | ||||
| Columbus Area Chamber FoundationVelocities | Support partnership efforts to grow innovation-driven business in the Bartholomew-Brown-Monroe region | Bartholomew | $9,750 | ||||
| Community Education CoalitionEcO Network | Expand work-based learning programs, launch career awareness and outreach strategies to successfully grow the pipeline of skilled workers in the area | Bartholomew | $19,900 | ||||
| Hamilton County Workforce Innovation NetworkWorkforce Recovery, Talent Pathway Initiative | Develop two talent pathways, one in health care and the other in construction, which will provide work-based learning opportunities and degree programs | Hamilton | $20,000 | ||||
| Heartland Career CenterHeartland Career Center Adult Certification Training Center Expansion Project | Expand the center’s educational footprint to become the first adult training facility within a 30-mile radius in the region | Wabash | $15,000 | ||||
| Indiana 4-H Foundation4-H Powers the Energy Industry | Provide youth the opportunity to explore the fundamentals of electricity, renewable energy technologies and conservation | Tippecanoe | $15,000 | ||||
| Indiana Talent NetworkIN Talent Networks | Connect state systems with resources and a forum to collaborate on talent pipeline for underserved populations | Bartholomew | $10,000 | ||||
| Johnson County Community FoundationEmployer Resource Network | Help community resources provide employees relief for issues such as reliable transportation, child care, housing challenges, etc. | Johnson | $5,000 | ||||
| Junior Achievement of Southwestern IndianaAdvancing STEM through Career Awareness with JA | Provide young people with the combination of technical skills, specifically in science, technology, engineering and math, and non-technical skills to succeed in the future job market | Statewide | $8,000 | ||||
| LTHC Homeless ServicesEmployment Services | Provide a range of programs to help individuals experiencing homelessness and help them obtain employment | Tippecanoe | $15,000 | ||||
| Radius Indiana@RadiusIndiana | Target three sectors: advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity training and employment; supply more housing construction by training additional workers | Martin | $20,000 | ||||
| River Valley ResourcesJAG Industry Exposure Opportunities | Increase industry exposure for students by providing career and industry tour opportunities; host the first ever regional event featuring trade-only employers and educators | Bartholomew | $10,000 | ||||
| White’s Residential and Family ServiceGrowing Teens for Life | Gives teens hands-on work experience and vocational certifications in areas such as food service, hospitality, logistics and barista services | Wabash | $10,000 | ||||
| Workforce NetworkWestern Indiana Survey and Work Experience Grant | Provide critical data that will support strategies aimed at engaging low-income and diverse populations succeed | Vigo | $9,500 |
