Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
BEDFORD – Grants from the Duke Energy Foundation will fund scholarships for training battery technicians at the WestGate@Crane Technology Park and a construction trades camp for area high school students.
The Vincennes University Foundation is the recipient of a $50,000 grant that will provide scholarships for students enrolled in the university’s new Electric Battery Technician Training Program. Vincennes University partnered with the Battery Innovation Center and Radius Indiana to launch a 20-credit-hour program in which students can earn a certificate of completion in electronics technology with an electric battery certification. The new program was established to support the growth of electric battery manufacturers in the region. The pilot program will be conducted at WestGate@Crane Technology Park.
“As technology has advanced, the professional skills required for success and career advancement in our region have evolved,” said Kristi Deetz, executive director of the Vincennes University Foundation and senior director of institutional advancement. “Through the generosity of partners like the Duke Energy Foundation, we’re offering individuals the opportunity to master skills in the electric battery industry, opening the door to new career opportunities and meeting the workforce needs of local employers.”
Building trades at StoneGate
StoneGate Arts & Education Center in Bedford will host a building trades career camp this fall after receiving a $10,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation.
High school juniors and seniors from Lawrence and surrounding counties will be invited to take part in the camps.
Linda Henderson, executive director of StoneGate, said the camps are a collaboration between StoneGate, the North Lawrence Career Center and Built to Succeed, a nonprofit that is part of the Indiana Careers in Construction Association.
Fourteen building trades will be represented, including brick layers, electricians, plumbers, operating engineers, roofers, iron workers and sheet metal workers. Students will observe demonstrations and can check out simulators and equipment.
Students will also get to talk to those representing skilled trades about their careers and they can find out about apprenticeship programs and training opportunities.
“One of the goals of this is to address the shortage of skilled trade workers in Indiana,” Henderson said. “And we know not every student is interested in a four-year degree, but a two-year degree is an option and you can make a nice living wage in skilled trades.”
The camp is modeled after a similar building trades camp offered in Tippecanoe County last year. Henderson said she connected with Built to Succeed to find out about bringing the camp to high schoolers in south central Indiana.
A planning committee made up of Henderson, North Lawrence Career Center Director Amy Redman, Ryan Griffith from McIntyre Bros. and Rob King from WorkOne, also were part of the planning.
Henderson said she envisions four to six high schools taking part. A portion of the $10,000 grant will pay for student transportation and substitute teachers needed that day at the schools. Students will be invited from BNL, Mitchell, Medora, Orleans, Shoals and Loogootee.
After the students leave, there will be an opportunity in the afternoon for adults interested in construction trades to attend the session.
About the grants
The Duke Energy Foundation awarded more than $300,000 in shareholder-funded grants to 16 organizations providing job search, education and specialized training opportunities for Hoosiers.
“The most important investment we can make is in the people and communities we serve,” said Stan Pinegar, president of Duke Energy Indiana. “Our Workforce Development Program grants aim to meet the needs of local employers while also providing resources
Over the past five years, Duke has contributed more than $1.2 million in grant funding to organizations that are helping to strengthen Indiana’s talent pipeline.