SALISBURY — Rowan-Cabarrus Community College received a $200,000 investment from Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas to be used to connect students with hands-on training and career development opportunities.

The investment will support the college’s new Multicraft Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship program.

“We are grateful to Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas for their continued support of our community’s workforce development needs and appreciate this vote of confidence in our ability to develop this unique apprenticeship program,” said college President Carol S. Spalding. “Without investments like this, it would be difficult for small businesses to fund their own apprenticeships, and this will make it much more accessible for them.”

The grant will fund tuition, book and material costs for each apprentice over the next four years. In addition, the grant provides money to buy equipment and supplies that will be housed in the college’s new Advanced Manufacturing Training Center in Kannapolis, which is slated to open at the end of 2019.

“We started this program because companies need more multicraft maintenance technicians who have a mastery of all required job duties, but most of our local companies do not have the critical mass to run an apprenticeship program,” said Kerry Motley, apprenticeship director and account manager in business services at Rowan-Cabarrus. “By the college taking on the administrative functions, this allows companies to join a collective of manufacturing companies to ensure that their apprentices get the training they need when they need it.”

The partnership will fill a growing demand for skilled workers. Rowan-Cabarrus hosts and registers the apprenticeship program, as well as provides classroom instruction and oversees on-the-job-training for the apprentices. Companies involved in the initiative include Alevo and Chroma Color Corp.

“The expansion of apprenticeship programs all across the United States is preparing workers for the rapidly changing economy and filling existing and new jobs in the future,” said David King, lead account manager in business services at Rowan-Cabarrus.

Employees will participate in theoretical instruction and 2,000 hours of on-the-job training each year for four years.

“Having a qualified, trained maintenance technician saves companies both time and money because they will no longer need to outsource various maintenance needs for random issues, but instead can rely on a jack-of-all-trades certified journeyman to handle any circumstance that may arise,” said King.

The program allows companies and organizations to invest in their employees’ developmental skills and training at a discount rate. It will offer apprenticeship instructions on electrical, mechanics, machining, programmable logic controls, welding, fabrication, and heating and air conditioning. Apprentices who complete this program will be multicraft certified and equipped to handle a variety of maintenance issues.

Rowan-Cabarrus is partnering with local companies, including Trelleborg Boots North America Inc. and Carolina Color Corporation, to provide apprenticeship training over the next four years for employees to become multi-craft certified. Their employees will participate in theoretical instruction and 2,000 hours of on-the-job training simultaneously.

“We are proud to partner with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College to connect students with apprenticeship and workforce training opportunities,” said Randy Welch, Duke Energy district manager. “These students will help meet the growing and evolving needs of the region’s manufacturing industry.”

The program should support 42 local students over the four-year grant period.

The grant is part of Duke Energy’s $35 million investment in North Carolina community colleges’ focus on technical education and support of business and industry.

To enroll employees in the training and certification program, contact Kerry Motley at kerry.motley@rccc.edu or 704.216-7210.

For more information about Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, visit www.rccc.edu/apply or call 704-216-RCCC (7222).