NC NEWSLINE – A nonprofit organization is launching a $9.25 million program in North Carolina to help train electricians across the state.
Gov. Josh Stein and the Siemens Foundation announced Careers Electric on Tuesday, a national initiative kicking off in North Carolina. The investment aims to expand access to electrical training and help students transition to in-demand electrical careers.
Through collaborations with the state, the program plans to train 25,000 North Carolina residents for jobs in the energy and infrastructure sectors in its first 10 years.
As the state’s population continues to grow, so does the need for energy.
“Given our state’s real need to produce and distribute more power, it is certain that we need more electrical talent,” Stein said.
The announcement falls in line with other recent energy-related news.
On Sunday, Stein’s North Carolina Energy Policy Task Force released a report examining keeping energy affordable amid more proposed data centers. A $208 million energy saving program is now available statewide, Stein said last week. And earlier this month, Duke Energy announced a $500,000 investment to bolster the energy workforce, an initiative that’s similar to Careers Electric.
Siemens Foundation CEO David Etzwiler said the number of electrical workers retiring from the field each year exceeds the number entering.
“We’re partnering with business, education systems and government to build meaningful pathways for well-paying sustainable careers in electrical trades,” Etzwiler said. “These are meaningful jobs with tremendous benefits and upside potential.”
The foundation is the philanthropic branch of German multinational technology company Siemens AG, which employs several thousand workers in North Carolina.
The group’s investment includes a statewide partnership with employers and high school pre-apprenticeship programs beginning this summer, Etzwiler said. High school students would spend eight weeks training and receive a stipend of $2,000 each.
At the post-secondary level, Careers Electric is working with Wake Tech Community College to increase enrollment, equipment, and advanced training courses in electrical systems technology, as well as to attract instructors.
The program will also strengthen electrical training programs at 10 additional community colleges across the state.
“This initiative is perfectly aligned with our system’s vision to connect students to high-demand, high-wage jobs, while also filling the talent pipeline for all of our business and industry partners,” said Jeff Cox, president of the North Carolina Community College System.
