A Cool Million (and a Quarter) from AdvanceSC

At the BMW Zentrum today, AdvanceSC handed a large check to the board of the Upstate Alliance for Technical Training. The check itself was the usual kind for photo-ops–about 30 inches x 60 inches–but the amount was more impressive: one and a quarter million dollars made available for grants.

Partners in the Upstate Alliance are Tri-County Technical College, Greenville Technical College, Piedmont Technical College, Spartanburg Community College, and now York Technical College. AdvanceSC funding comes from Duke Energy, which donates 50% of its profits on sales of power. The grants support economic development through training programs in the technical colleges, research and development of solutions in colleges and universities, and workforce preparation programs for high school students.

In the last three years, AdvanceSC has made $31 million available for local helping agencies, educational institutions and businesses.

Paul Clay of T.O.T.A.L. Ministries shared how AdvanceSC had allowed the ministry to reach 20% more people with heating assistance, individuals who have financial challenges due to illness, layoffs or disasters. Mandy Orzechowski presented slides showing Anderson Career and Technology students building engineering projects and working with robots. Oconee County was able to attract Borg-Warner TorqTransfer Systems to with grant money for the logistics of moving the company that will bring more than 90 new jobs to the county over the next two to three years.

The SC Technical College System in the Upstate is gearing up to teach a comprehensive curricululm in Fall 2008 called Tech Ready SC. Based on Mechatronics, a system of modular components that allow students to learn mechanical, electrical and robotics processes for advanced manufacturing, the curriculum is designed from actual job analyses. Since all the colleges involved will use the same curriculum, trained workers in the Upstate will be ready when the new high tech plants are finished, like Borg-Warner in Oconee County, and LSP, Inc. in Union County.

In addition, summer camp programs are planned for middle school and high school students to work with robots at the technical colleges for first hand experiences with engineering. Last summer 227 students attended these camps, which are designed to encourage students to prepare for high-paying jobs in advanced manufacturing plants that are efficient and competitive in the world market. The camps teach problem-solving and creative thinking as well as practical processes.

AdvanceSC, thanks a million!