SC Technical College System Leads $12.6 Million Initiative to Transform South Carolina's Energy Workforce
Columbia, S.C. - The SC Technical College System is proud to announce its leadership role in a groundbreaking $12.6 million initiative, part of the broader $45 million federal investment secured by the SC Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy (SC Nexus). This initiative is designed to revolutionize South Carolina’s energy workforce and infrastructure. The SC Nexus has been designated as one of 31 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, placing South Carolina at the forefront of innovation in resilient and sustainable energy technologies.
The SC Technical College System will lead the Education and Workforce Center project, a critical component of the SC Nexus Tech Hub. This project aims to enhance awareness of energy-focused industries and job opportunities, identify and develop essential skills, and provide support services to ensure that South Carolinians can access new, high-quality jobs in the emerging energy economy.
"As the state's most extensive higher education system, the SC Technical College System is uniquely positioned to lead this transformative Education and Workforce Center initiative,” said Tim Hardee, president of the SC Technical College System. “This project highlights our commitment to advancing education and workforce development and underscores our dedication to ensuring that all South Carolinians, especially those in rural and underserved communities, have access to high-quality, future-ready jobs. By enhancing awareness of energy-focused industries, bridging skills gaps, and providing essential support services, we are paving the way for a resilient and sustainable energy economy that is expected to create over 14,000 jobs by 2030. We are excited to leverage our resources and expertise to build a talent pipeline that will drive innovation and secure South Carolina's position as a leader in the global energy sector."
Key Components of the Education and Workforce Center Project:
Enhance Citizen Awareness of Grid Resilience Industries, Jobs, and Training and Educational Opportunities
Increase Exposure to Grid Resilience Careers: Establish a central information portal and a mobile "engagement lab," training approximately 2,000 students, particularly in rural areas, over the next three years.
Educate K-12 Students: Partner with the Governor's School for Science and Mathematics "STEM Days on the Go" program to train 250 middle school students over the next year.
Bridge the Gap in Technical and Soft Skills for Success in These Roles
Establish a Grid Resilience Employer Collaborative: Address industry trends and develop curricula, launching the collaborative and developing curricula over the next year.
Establish Industry Internships that Transition into Full-Time Positions: Utilize industry expert-staffed mobile labs to recruit students and launch internships. Deploy the mobile lab in Fall 2025 and train approximately 2,000 students over the following two years, with a focus on offsetting fees for underrepresented groups.
About the SC Technical College System. Comprised of 16 colleges located strategically across the state and two internationally-renowned statewide programs: readySC™ and Apprenticeship Carolina™, the SC Technical College System is dedicated to furthering economic and workforce development in South Carolina. As the state's largest higher education system, the SC Technical System educates more of our state's undergraduates than all the other public higher education institutions combined. Dedicated to making a quality higher education both accessible and affordable, the System plays a crucial role in educating and training South Carolina's workforce for the in-demand, high-skilled jobs of today and tomorrow. Learn more about the System by visiting www.sctechsystem.edu.
