Duke Energy gives $25,000 to support Durham Tech’s Electric Line Technician program

Durham Technical Community College received $25,000 to support its Electric Line Technician Program. 

Durham Tech’s grant was part of a series of grants announced this week by Duke Energy to support workforce development efforts in the energy sector.   

Durham Tech received $25,000 to support recruitment, instructor stipends, equipment, materials and program marketing.  

“Duke Energy’s support will allow Durham Tech to deepen its recruitment efforts to build a diverse talent pipeline for electric line technician jobs and make the needed repairs and replacements of critical equipment as we enroll our 12th cohort of students,” said JB Buxton, president, Durham Technical Community College. “With Duke Energy’s continued partnership, we are able to connect people to good jobs and true economic opportunity.”   

In 2018, Duke Energy and Piedmont Electric Cooperative awarded Durham Tech $196,902 to start the Electric Line Technician program.    

The program began in Spring 2019 and has graduated over ten cohort classes. The partnership with Duke Energy allows students to participate in the program at no cost, and which covers registration, tuition, fees, and equipment.   

“Duke Energy is committed to creating access to education and workforce development for people in the communities where we live and work,” said Amy Strecker, Duke Energy Foundation president. “Skilled lineworkers maintain our infrastructure, allowing our communities to thrive. Equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge required to perform utility line work prepares them for this rewarding career.”  

Read the full announcement from Duke Energy here   

For more information, contact Desiree Patrick, M.S., Communications and Public Relations Coordinator, at allisontowsond@durhamtech.edu.