Project Grant ED24HDQ0G0450

PURPOSE: THE SC NEXUS EDUCATION & WORKFORCE CENTER (EWC)?A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE SOUTH CAROLINA TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM (SCTCS) AND THE REGION?S GRID RESILIENCE EMPLOYERS, K-12 AND HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, AND COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS?WILL ESTABLISH THE REGION AS A GLOBAL LEADER FOR GRID RESILIENCE TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT TO MEET CURRENT AND FUTURE EMPLOYER NEEDS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: WIDEN EXPOSURE (FOR STUDENTS, PARENTS, JOB SEEKERS, EDUCATORS, AND COUNSELORS) TO GRID RESILIENCE WORKFORCE PATHWAYS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH A CENTRALIZED INFORMATION PORTAL, HOSTED BY THE COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (CCWD). WIDEN EXPOSURE TO GRID RESILIENCE CAREERS THROUGH A MOBILE ENGAGEMENT LAB. THE MOBILE LAB WILL INITIALLY TRAVEL TO COMMUNITY SITES IN UNION, ORANGEBURG, BARNWELL, BAMBERG, AND ALLENDALE COUNTIES. ENGAGE K-12 STUDENTS THROUGH IN-SCHOOL AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE A STANDARDS-BASED GRID RESILIENCE LESSON THROUGH THE GOVERNOR?S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS (GSSM) "STEM DAYS ON THE GO" PROGRAM. MIDDLE SCHOOLERS WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND ?GOSCITECH? SUMMER CAMPS, OFFERING HANDS-ON PROJECTS ON STATIONARY BATTERIES, GRID EMULATION, AND CYBER GRID. HIGH SCHOOLERS CAN PARTICIPATE IN SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY?S (SCSU) ?SUMMER STEM BRIDGE PROGRAM? FOR STEM STUDENTS. REGULARLY CONVENE A GRID RESILIENCE EMPLOYER COLLABORATIVE TO DISCUSS INDUSTRY TRENDS AND CHALLENGES, IDENTIFY CRITICAL ROLES AND SKILLS TO FILL, AND JOINTLY DEVELOP EMPLOYER-CONNECTED CURRICULA THROUGH THE SOUTH CAROLINA TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS HUB GEOGRAPHY WILL GAIN AWARENESS OF AND DIRECT ACCESS TO GRID RESILIENCE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AT A REDUCED COST. FIFTEEN INSTRUCTORS AT THREE TECHNICAL COLLEGES WILL BE TRAINED IN TEACH GRID RESILIENCE CURRICULA. APPROXIMATELY 2,000 STUDENTS WILL BE EXPOSED TO GRID RESILIENCE ISSUES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND CAREERS THROUGH IN-SCHOOL AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. EMPLOYERS WILL GAIN ACCESS TO WORKERS WITH AWARENESS AND SKILLS RELEVANT TO GRID RESILIENCE TECHNOLOGIES.