Roane State Community College receives grant funding via Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER Initiative

Roane State Community College has received $1.3 million in grant funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative. The funding will support the college’s project, “Driving the Nuclear Technology Industry with a High-Quality Workforce.” The project seeks to provide access to nuclear technology industry training for rural, distressed, and at-risk counties.

According to an article on Roane State Community College’s website, Teresa Duncan, who serves as the college’s Vice President of Workforce Development, was quoted as saying of the college’s project, “Roane State and its industry partners are well-positioned to meet the workforce challenges ahead of us. Our technical STEM programs, particularly our Associate of Applied Science degrees in Chemical Engineering Technology, Nuclear Technology, and Environmental Health Technology, are directly aligned with the skills and competencies required by the ever-expanding nuclear sector.”

The ARC’s POWER Initiative seeks to provide federal funding to Appalachian coal communities to help expand the economic opportunities available, including providing workforce training and education in many industries. In East Tennessee, the community is transitioning to a nuclear technology focus, and this funding will support that transition and help community members become skilled and prepared for high-demand jobs.

Roane State President Chris Whaley said, “ARC grants require a demonstrated partnership of business and industry, economic development, local communities, and post-secondary education. This grant will further allow Roane State to produce highly qualified graduates and upskilled workers ready to meet the region’s critical workforce needs in the nuclear, chemical, and environmental health sectors.”

The funding will be used to hire adjunct faculty to support the college’s nuclear technology and chemical engineering technology programs, purchase equipment and supplies for these nuclear-related programs, and develop the curriculum for these and related non-credit training courses. The project will also support the development of a talent pipeline from high school to nuclear technology training programs.

For more information about Roane State Community College, visit the school’s website.