Grants
Each year, OCtech receives state and federal grant funds to support projects focused on student success for under-represented groups; program creation and improvement; and workforce expansion.
For more information on OCtech’s current grant projects, please contact:
Leah Jones
Director of Accreditation and Accountability, Grants Coordinator
jonesl@octech.edu
803-535-1280
Current Grants:
Metallica Scholars Initiative
Metallica’s Foundation, All Within My Hands, partnered with the American Association of Community Colleges in 2018 to create a major workforce education initiative called Metallica Scholars. MSI provides direct support to community colleges to enhance their career and technical education programs. These programs provide skills and services to students looking to enter a traditional trade or other applied learning program. The Metallica Scholars Initiative began with ten schools in 2019 and currently includes 75 community colleges.
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College is proud to be one of 15 nationwide recipients to join Year 7 of the prestigious Metallica Scholars Initiative. Supported by a generous $75,000 grant aimed at enhancing persistence and retention in its nursing programs, this grant provides scholarships and support services to eligible students.
SC Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy (SC NEXUS)
The South Carolina Technical College System is a key partner in the SC Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy (SC NEXUS) initiative, a federally designated tech hub focused on cyber-secure grid resilience technologies.
Here’s how they are connected:
- Federal Grant Funding: The SC NEXUS was awarded $45 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) Tech Hubs program. This funding supports various projects aimed at advancing clean energy technologies and workforce development.
- Workforce Development and Training: One of the key projects funded by this grant is the Education and Workforce Center project, led by the SC Technical College System. This project aims to
1. Increase awareness of career opportunities in South Carolina’s energy-focused industries.
2. Identify and develop the necessary skills for success in these roles.
3. Provide crucial support services, like childcare and transportation, to encourage greater workforce participation. - Targeting Underserved Communities: A significant goal of the SC NEXUS is to ensure that the benefits of its projects, including skills training and workforce development, reach the most distressed counties within the region. They aim to source over 40% of jobs from underserved and rural communities.
As a training partner, OCtech has been awarded $215,000 to offer energy-related programming, including Electrical Lineman and Cybersecurity.
