Beaufort County Community College is partnering with Duke Energy to give students an up-to-date, real-world-applicable education for the workforce.

Over the past few years, BCCC has benefitted from Duke Energy’s Community Colleges Grant Program, receiving a total of $825,916 to use toward updating machinery and equipment in advanced manufacturing, welding and mechanical engineering, according to grant writer Julia Crippen.

With updated technology, students come out of school with better training for a modern-day workforce and a better chance of landing jobs, according to a BCCC press release.

“Manufacturers are looking for students who are trained on the latest equipment used in the field. The updated technology gives students an advantage in the workplace,” the release stated.

BCCC receives funds from the county and state levels, but Crippen said funding requirements often do not allow the college to use that money toward updates and improvements.

Crippen said that while the college cannot rely on grant money, the funds from Duke Energy have been vital in taking those programs into the 21^st century. The company reached a milestone this year with $30 million in funds given to community colleges since the grant program’s inception in 2004.

Most recently, BCCC received more than $220,000 to purchase a plasma arc cutter and touchscreen press brake for the welding program. More than $215,000 also went toward engineering and computer-integrated manufacturing.

“Our state’s community colleges are key to creating a skilled workforce and thriving business climate in North Carolina,” David Fountain, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president, stated in a press release. “Economic development is critical to our state’s future and, at Duke Energy, we’re committed to developing a workforce that attracts new employers, while expanding the capabilities of existing businesses.”

Crippen said that she meets with instructors and college officials to determine what grant to pursue and how the money would be used.

It’s a months-long process from receiving a grant to actually seeing the results, but Crippen said the college is starting to receive some of the new equipment and is looking forward to putting it to use.