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CCTC Foundation Receives $20,000 Duke Energy Foundation Grant to Support Workforce Development

Sumter, SC (09/11/2026) — The Central Carolina Technical College (CCTC) Foundation is pleased to announce a $20,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation to support TradeShift-CORE, an innovative workforce development initiative designed to prepare individuals for high-demand careers in construction, industrial maintenance and related skilled trades.

The grant is part of a $180,000 investment by the Duke Energy Foundation in nine South Carolina technical colleges to expand workforce training, enhance hands-on learning and support industry-recognized credentials in high-demand fields.

TradeShift-CORE will provide participants with a combination of technical training, career coaching and job placement support. The program is built around the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Core curriculum, providing participants with foundational skills and an industry-recognized credential to help prepare them for careers in the skilled trades.

Over the next year, the program is expected to serve up to 40 learners across three cohorts, helping participants build the technical and employability skills needed to enter and advance in today's workforce.

"We are grateful to the Duke Energy Foundation for investing in opportunities that connect people with the skills employers need," said CCTC President Dr. Jennifer Wilbanks. "TradeShift-CORE provides individuals with a direct pathway to high-demand careers through hands-on learning experience and industry-recognized credentials. Partnerships like this allow CCTC to expand access to workforce training while strengthening the talent pipeline for our employers."

The grant supports CCTC's continued commitment to developing a skilled workforce that meets the needs of employers and contributes to the economic vitality of the communities the college serves.

Since 2016, the Duke Energy Foundation has invested $5.4 million in similar workforce development initiatives across South Carolina.

Central Carolina Technical College is a comprehensive two-year college serving Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee and Sumter counties. CCTC provides accessible, affordable, high-quality education and workforce training designed to prepare students for successful careers and support the economic development of the region. Through academic programs, continuing education and workforce development initiatives, CCTC works closely with business and industry to meet the evolving needs of the communities it serves.

The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.

For more information about CCTC credit and non-credit programs, visit cctech.edu.

Media Attachments

Quinetta Buterbaugh, Duke Energy district manager, Government and Community Relations, presents a check for $20,000 from the Duke Energy Foundation to Dr. Jennifer Wilbanks, CCTC president; Misty Hatfield, vice president for Institutional Advancement and executive director of the CCTC Foundation; and the CCTC Foundation Board of Trustees in support of workforce development through CCTC’s TradeShift-CORE initiative.

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