Careers Electric receives grant to expand North Carolina training

Key Takeaways

• The Siemens Foundation, together with the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE), secured a $999,000+ grant from BlackRock Future Builders.
• Funding will broaden the Careers Electric Summer Academy into eastern North Carolina, adding ≥150 new student slots in its first expansion year.
• The program pays participants as pre‑apprentices, awards industry‑recognized credentials, and grants college credit through partner community colleges.
• NCBCE, Wake Technical Community College, the NC Community College System, the NC Community College Foundation, and the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program are the core implementation partners.
• The coalition’s 10‑year goal: 25,000 skilled electrical workers nationwide.

Overview of the New Grant

Funding Source & Amount

The BlackRock Future Builders initiative released its inaugural national request for proposals (RFP). Out of 1,000+ applicants, 15 projects were selected, including the NCBCE‑led Careers Electric effort. The awarded sum exceeds $999,000, making it the largest single grant in the program’s first cycle.

Purpose of the Investment

The money will:

The Careers Electric Summer Academy Model

Program Structure

• Host Institutions: 12 community colleges and 8 high schools across North Carolina (2023 baseline).
• Curriculum: 8‑week intensive modules covering electrical theory, hands‑on wiring, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and electric‑vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
• Credentials: Participants earn the National Electrical Code (NEC) certification and up to 6 semester hours of college credit.

Financial Incentives for Students

Students are classified as pre‑apprentices, receiving a stipend of $15–$18 per hour and a guaranteed interview pipeline with coalition employers such as Siemens, Schneider Electric, and regional utilities.

Removal of Barriers

• Transportation vouchers and lunch subsidies are provided to 100% of enrollees.
• No tuition is charged; all materials are supplied free of cost.
• The program offers child‑care assistance for participants with dependents.

Coalition Partners & Their Roles

Why the Expansion Matters

1. Rising Electrification Demand – The U.S. Department of Energy projects a 30% increase in electric‑vehicle charging stations and a 45% rise in renewable‑energy‑linked grid upgrades by 2030.
2. Skill Gap – The National Electrical Contractors Association reports a 12% shortage of qualified electricians in the Southeast, translating to an estimated 8,000 vacant positions in North Carolina alone.
3. Economic Impact – Each newly trained electrician is projected to generate $85,000 in annual payroll, boosting local economies and tax bases.

Comparison with Traditional Apprenticeship Paths

Bottom Line

The Siemens Foundation‑backed grant propels Careers Electric’s Summer Academy into a critical growth phase, directly addressing North Carolina’s acute shortage of qualified electrical workers. By delivering paid, credentialed, and college‑credit‑bearing training at scale, the program not only equips 150+ new pre‑apprentices in its first year but also creates a replicable template for nationwide workforce development. As electrification accelerates across energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors, initiatives like Careers Electric will be indispensable to meeting both industry demand and regional economic objectives.