SANFORD - Duke Energy is an important supporter of Central Carolina Community College's academic and workforce training programs.

So far in 2014, the Duke Energy Foundation has awarded a $233,950 grant to the college for high technology workforce training and $50,000 for the new Central Carolina Works initiative.

"Central Carolina Community College plays a critical role in developing a high-skilled workforce to attract and retain businesses in this region," said Indira Everett, Duke Energy district manager.

With the high technology workforce-training grant, CCCC is purchasing three robotic welding cells for the welding program at its Lee County Campus. It is also expanding the welding bays at its Industry Training Center in the Innovation Center at the Lee County Industrial Park. This training prepares graduates for the automated production environments of the 21st century in fields such as welding, maintenance, and quality control.

The Central Carolina Works grant is helping to fund the CC Works public-private initiative. This will train and place Academic and Career Advisors in each of the public high schools in the college's service area of Chatham, Harnett and Lee counties starting in the fall.

The advisors will work one-on-one with students in each of the nine public high schools in the college's service area to help them take advantage of the state-funded Career and College Promise program.

The CCP program enables high school students to dual-enroll in high school and community colleges. They earn college credit, tuition-free, that also applies toward their high school diploma. This provides a jump-start on their career or college education.Currently, only 5 percent of public high school students in the three-county area enroll in college courses.

"We are grateful for Duke Energy and all those who are supporting the efforts to increase the educational attainment and workforce skills development of those in our communities," said Dr. Bud Marchant, CCCC president. "It strengthens the fabric of our communities when we work together to provide excellent academic and workforce training that helps residents to build more prosperous lives."

For more information about Central Carolina Works, visit www.cccc.edu/ccworks or contact Virginia Brown at 919-718-7370 or vbrown@cccc.edu. For information about the college and its programs, visit www.cccc.edu.

Contributions to the Central Carolina Works initiative can be made to the CCCC Foundation. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization affiliated with, but independent of, the college. It receives donations of money and equipment on behalf of CCCC and uses them to promote the educational mission of the college and assist students through scholarships and grants. For information on giving to the Foundation, contact Emily Hare, director of the CCCC Foundation and Development Office, 919-718-7230 or ehare@cccc.edu.