Duke Energy distributed grants worth $150,000 to charitable organizations in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati
Duke Energy Awards $150,000 in Grants to Boost Workforce Development in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati
Duke Energy and its Foundation recently hosted a grant ceremony at the Brighton Center in Newport, awarding a total of $150,000 to 14 local organisations. The grants, part of Duke Energy's 2025 workforce development initiative, aim to support workforce development in high-demand industries and strengthen the pipeline for skilled labour in the energy sector.
Kim Vogelgesang from Duke Energy Foundation distributed the grants, with Wonda Winker, president and CEO of the Brighton Center, giving welcome remarks. Rhonda Whitaker Hurtt, Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky vice president of community relations, also spoke at the event.
Among the grant recipients were Cincinnati Works, Per Scholas, Supply Chain OKI, Freestore Foodbank, St. Rita School for the Deaf, Talbert House, Northern Kentucky University, Groundwork Ohio River Valley, Chatfield College, Easterseals Redwood Tristate, and Butler Warren County Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training.
These organisations, based in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati, will use the grants to provide training and certifications that help prepare individuals for careers in energy and related fields. The grants will also support local education and career exploration programmes, as well as tailored workforce programmes aligned with energy sector demands.
Duke Energy's 2025 workforce development grants focus on fostering learning and creating pipelines for skilled workers needed to meet the energy industry's workforce needs. The grants are part of Duke Energy Foundation's broader commitment to workforce development and urban revitalization in counties including Boone, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, and Pendleton in Kentucky.
The objective of these grants is to contribute to community economic growth and development. Similar to Duke Energy's investments in Florida colleges and universities, the grants aim to build the next-generation workforce. Although specific Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati grant details are not explicitly itemized, the overall program supports local education, career exploration, and workforce programmes aligned with energy sector demands.
The grants come as Duke Energy continues to invest in the region, with a focus on supporting local nonprofit organisations with grants up to $20,000 to strengthen workforce skills and economic development. The grant application deadline is July 31, 2025, 5:00 p.m. EST.
In summary, Duke Energy’s 2025 workforce development grants in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati aim to provide targeted funding to local nonprofits and education programmes to develop skilled labor pipelines in the energy sector, aligned with community needs and economic revitalization goals.
- The organizations that received grants from Duke Energy in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati, such as Cincinnati Works and Northern Kentucky University, will utilize the funds for education and self-development programs related to business, finance, and energy-related fields.
- The community development in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati will be significantly impacted by Duke Energy's grants, as these funds will support local workforce programs aligned with the energy sector's demand for skilled labor.
- Duke Energy's focus on workforce development extends beyond Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati, as seen in their investments in education and self-development programs in colleges and universities in other regions like Florida.
- The business community in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati will benefit from the workforce development grants provided by Duke Energy, as the grants will help create a pipeline of skilled workers required to meet the energy industry's workforce needs and contribute to community economic growth.
