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

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: $649,800

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: $122,077

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 Rise2Work participant training costs, including registration, tuition, and fees.

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

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

The Mentor Up Program aims to increase the number and quality of proposals submitted annually to NSF ATE for technician education. The program includes: One-on-one mentoring with experienced Principal Investigators and past NSF Program Officers.

• Funding agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Award amount:  $1500

Central Piedmont will receive guidance, technical assistance and coaching leading to the development of an Advanced Technological Education proposal to be submitted in October 2024.

• Funding agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Award amount: $7,500

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

National Book Fund materials were purchased for Central Piedmont to provide direct instruction in a face-to-face modality at locations in the service area that are convenient and accessible to students.

• Funding agency: National Book Fund
• Award amount: $2,114.94

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

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: $936,507

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 offer QPR training to assist participants to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer.

• Funding agency: The University of North Carolina System
• Award amount: $5,844.50

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: $15,665

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: $24,308

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: $720,990

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: $23,797

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 amount: $4,969,311

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: $240,891.00

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: $500,000

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: $24,000