Asheville-Buncombe Tech Receives $238,000 Grant from Duke Energy August 24, 2007

Released by Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

A $238,000 grant designed to broaden the employee pool for manufacturers in Western North Carolina has been awarded to A-B Tech by the Duke Energy Carolinas’ Community College Grant Program.

The Resurgent Manufacturing Initiative grant will be used to purchase a CNC machine for Machining Technology, a coordinate measuring machine and equipment for Mechanical Engineering, and programmable logic controllers for Electronics Engineering Technology.

“The future of successful manufacturing lies with the use of smart manufacturing strategies,” A-B Tech President Betty Young said. “Business in our region of the state will benefit greatly through the programs A-B Tech will be providing because of this grant.”

The project provides support for area companies to build a well-trained workforce. The College will be able to train students in apprenticeship programs in electronics engineering, mechanical technician, and tool and die machining.

“This is state-of-the-art technology that would be otherwise be out of our means,” Larry Boyd, A-B Tech’s Machining Technology chair, said. “It will train the Mechanical Engineering students on equipment that they will actually use in the real world.”

Duke Energy recognized that even though the Carolinas have top-rated community and technical college systems, budgetary constraints present a challenge for them. Managed by The Foundation For The Carolinas, Duke’s Community and Technical College Grant Program provides a financial boost that helps colleges extend their expertise, provide rewarding opportunities for students, and ultimately, revitalize manufacturing in the Carolinas.

The Foundation For The Carolinas is a nonprofit community foundation serving donors and a broad range of charitable purposes in North and South Carolina. With assets of more than $500 million, the Foundation encourages and makes possible philanthropic giving by individuals of all means to benefit their communities. For more information on the Foundation, visit www.fftc.org.

Contact Information:

Martha Ball
Communications Specialist
A-B Tech
828-254-1921, Ext. 852
mball@abtech.edu