Current Awards

This funding will be used to support qualified apprentices and employers expanding registered apprenticeships within targeted industry occupations. The purpose of the program is to address the need for current and future skilled labor shortages in NC.

• Funding agency: North Carolina Community College System
• Award amount: $110,750

Building Safe and Secure Communities Project explores ways technology, specifically Artificial Intelligence (AI), can automate the detection of common crimes in Charlotte, and eventually elsewhere. Since Fall 2019, UNC Charlotte and Central Piedmont have been working together to develop AI training scenarios, create training videos, label data, and launch a test lab that will be utilized by student fellows and, in the future, law enforcement training. Central Piedmont created a laboratory space for student fellows engaged in research at Merancas campus

• Funding agencies: 
  • UNC Charlotte
  • National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Award amount: $95,896.00

Charlotte Career Navigation Coach Project ensures that City of Charlotte employees have access to relevant training and education opportunities that will prepare them for future career ladders and lattices in departments across the city. The program address challenges unintentionally experienced through a lack of access, lack of diversity, and inequity throughout the workplace with awareness, growth, and development solutions for the community and city employees. The Career Coach will give employees the opportunity to determine their next move internally or post-retirement, align employee’s skills, experience, and interests with occupations within the City of Charlotte.

• Funding agency: City of Charlotte
• Award amount: $180,000

Identifies and prepares students to complete an associate degree, transfer to UNC Chapel Hill, and earn a bachelor’s degree in two to three years of additional study. 

• Funding agencies:
  • UNC Chapel Hill
  • GlaxoSmithKline
• Award amount: $18,500

The wellness center and the programming it will house will bolster academic success by helping students manage obstacles including stress, anxiety, depression, addiction recovery, and other problems.

• Funding agency: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
• Award amount: $575,000

Central Piedmont will partner with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools to provide high schools access to College & Career Coaches to help students define their career aspirations, then identify community college programs and/or training.

• Funding agencies:
  • Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
  • Private Funding
• Award amount: $495,000

Provides support for unexpected financial emergencies that students may face, including, housing, medical needs, dependent care, or other. Part of a statewide initiative driven by the governor’s office. 

• Funding agency: North Carolina Community College System
• Award amount: $41,451

Funding provides scholarships of up to $2,250 annually to curriculum students and up to $1850 annually to workforce continuing education students. Scholarship funds can be used to cover the cost of attendance, which includes items such as tuition, fees, books, supplies, credentialing tests, transportation, and childcare.

• Funding agency: North Carolina Community College System
• Award amount: $27,587

Central Piedmont will use funds to support the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician to help bridge the gap between EMTs and paramedics. The grant will be used to develop curriculum, offset accreditation costs, and invest in personnel and professional development. 

• Funding agency: North Carolina Community College System
• Award amount: $24,300

Central Piedmont will expand the capacity of its Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program by 50% to increase the pipeline of skilled, licensed nurses. 

• Funding agency: North Carolina Community College System
• Award amount: $400,000

Central Piedmont will use funds to start a new Radiography AAS degree and Limited Xray machine operator diploma program including development of curriculum, personnel hires, and equipment purchases. 

• Funding agency: North Carolina Community College System
• Award amount: $500,000

Mecklenburg County and Central Piedmont will partner to support MECKSuccess participants. A Navigation Coach will work with participants to define their career path and guide them to training and education opportunities. 

• Funding agency: Mecklenburg County
• Award amount: $36,716

Grant funds from the Metallica Scholars Initiative will provide direct support for students enrolled in healthcare career programs that need financial assistance to continue or complete and become licensed healthcare professionals.

• Funding agencies:
  • All Within My Hands Foundation
  • American Association of Community Colleges
• Award amount: $5,000

Supports an education navigator who collaborates with Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services to provide educational assessments, determine educational pathways, develop employability plans of action, and assist participants in accessing college resources. A portion of the funds are used to cover participant training costs, including registration, tuition, and fees.

• Funding agencies:
  • North Carolina Community College System
  • North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Award amount: $45,000

Provides outreach, career advising, and academic advising services to high school students. NC Career Coach will assist students with determining their career goals and selecting appropriate community college programs that empower students to achieve their goals.

• Funding agency: North Carolina Community College System
• Award amount: $39,582

Central Piedmont will enhance its outreach and services to adult learners by developing an Adult Learner Toolbox – a collection of resources targeted to adult learners. 

• Funding agency: John M. Belk Endowment
• Award amount: $200,000

The goal of the program is to engage students in a faculty-mentored STEM undergraduate research.

• Funding agencies:
  • NC State University 
  • NASA
• Award amount: $4,000

The North Carolina Science Festival has invited Central Piedmont to participate in the FUTURES program (Featuring Underrepresented Talent in Urban and Rural Engagement with Science. Presented by the Morehead Planetarium & Science Center at UNC Chapel Hill, this grant-funded program annually trains 40 diverse STEM faculty, staff, students and alumni in the North Carolina Community College System in STEM storytelling.

• Funding agency: UNC Chapel Hill
• Award amount: $9,890

Prepares at-risk youth, aged 16–24, for academic and employment success by providing participants with support in completing a high school diploma and enrolling in a career pathway.

• Funding agencies:
  • Charlotte Works
  • Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA)
• Award amount: $900,000

UNC Charlotte and Central Piedmont will work together to develop an interactive Artificial Intelligence (AI) research lab to develop and test technology for the detection of crime using real-time edge detection and re-identification. A cohort of fellows will participate in a cohort-based approach that includes leadership and service activities.

• Funding agencies:
  • UNC Charlotte
  • National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Award amount: $43,250

Provides participants with assessments, information and referral, English language and civics instruction, transportation support, and translation and interpretation services to become self-sufficient residents.

• Funding agency: Gene Haas
• Award amount: $20,000

Funds will be used to purchase vouchers for high school equivalency testing. Vouchers are part of the REACH collaborative efforts to support racial equity for adult learners. The REACH initiative is a national network focused on increasing credential attainment, especially short-term high-value credentials in higher education.

• Funding agencies:
  • North Carolina Community College System
  • Lumina Foundation
  • JM Belk Endowment
• Award amount: $11,831

Central Piedmont will provide subject matter expertise and train-the-trainer training related to the update of the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) electronic vehicle curriculum and related materials. 

• Funding agencies:
  • West Virginia University
  • Department of Energy
• Award Amount: $15,000

This project provides financial assistance for resident students who enroll in non-degree, short-term workforce training programs that lead to an industry-recognized credential in fields with competitive wages.

• Funding agency: North Carolina Community College System
• Award amount: $18,588

Funding will be used to remove financial barriers for students seeking to obtain state-regulated or industry-recognized credentials that lead to sustainable wage careers.

• Funding agencies:
  • North Carolina Community College System
  • State Employees Credit Union
• Award amount: $23,898

Central Piedmont will utilize these funds to support the Utility Line Worker program (equipment purchase), and develop curriculum for the EV charging stations deployment and solar programs.

• Funding agencies:
  • North Carolina A&T
  • Dept of Commerce - Economic Development Administration (EDA)
• Award amount: $840,000

(Perkins) Funds are intended to develop more fully the academic, vocational, and technical sills of students enrolled in career and technical education programs. 

• Funding agencies:
  • North Carolina Community College System
  • U.S. Department of Education
• Award amount: $666,501

Strengthening Teachers, Reaching Individuals, Valuing Everyone (STRIVE) supports higher education access and success for students pursuing an Associate in Applied Science or certificate in early childhood education.

• Funding agencies:
  • Mecklenburg County
  • Foundation for the Carolinas
  • Charlotte Executive Leadership Council
• Award amount: $3,750,195

Increases the number of disadvantaged, low-income, first-generation college students, and college students with disabilities by providing support services to increase the retention and graduation rates of participants.

• Funding agency: U.S. Department of Education
• Award amount: $1,589,026

Enables Central Piedmont to offer transition support to qualifying adolescents and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

• Funding agencies:
  • UNC Chapel Hill
  • NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
• Award amount: $29,784

Provides support services to low-literacy students and English language learners, as well as other special populations.

• Funding agencies:
  • North Carolina Community College System
  • U.S. Department of Education
• Award amounts: 
  • 231: $5,014,196
  • 243: $147,076

The Truck Driver Shortage program is a collaboration between the NC Trucking Association Foundation and the NC Community College System. Central Piedmont will address the local demand for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers by offering additional sections of the training and purchasing equipment that is integral to the program.

• Funding agency: North Carolina Community College System
• Award amount: $247,200

Project funds will be used to hire additional staff to implement an enhanced recruitment and coaching model for minority male students. Particular attention will be paid to minority males enrolled in the Summer Bridge program, who will matriculate to Central Piedmont

• Funding agency: North Carolina Community College System
• Award amount: $240,891

Funds to provide tuition assistance to students enrolled in short-term workforce training programs leading to a state or industry-recognized credential in a high-demand field.

• Funding agency: Institutional Funds
• Award amount: $1,000,000

The Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure program (Phase 1) is designed to expand the state's light duty zero emission vehicle charging infrastructure network. Central Piedmont will install three two-port systems. Systems will be located on Cato Campus, Harper Campus, and Levine Campus.

• Funding agency: NC Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality
• Award amount: $24,000

Phase II project funds will be used to install six EV charging stations at two Central Piedmont campuses. Four (4) charging stations will be installed at the Merancas Campus, and two (2) charging stations will be installed at the Harris Campus.

• Funding agency: NC Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality
• Award amount: $47,348