WASHINGTON DC, USA, Oct 2, 2026 – The Siemens Foundation celebrates Careers Electric, in partnership with the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE), being selected as part of BlackRock Future Builders™ first national request for proposals. Only 15 workforce initiatives were selected to the inaugural cohort from more than 1,000 applications across the country, with NCBCE being awarded a prestigious grant for more than $999,000. The BlackRock Future Builders grant will allow NCBCE to expand the successful Careers Electric Summer Academy model into eastern North Carolina, where electrical workforce demands and training capacity needs are especially acute. The grant will also enable NCBCE to expand Summer Academy pathways to students across North Carolina through systems-level career pathways work.
The Careers Electric Summer Academies are designed to remove barriers to participation while providing students with a comprehensive introduction to electrical careers. Community colleges and high schools across the state host summer academies where students gain hands-on technical instruction, industry-recognized credentials, college credit opportunities, and work-based learning experiences while being paid and registered as pre-apprentices. NCBCE has been an integral delivery partner supporting the Careers Electric Coalition’s goal to develop 25,000 skilled U.S. electrical workers in its first ten years.
“For more than 40 years, NCBCE has brought North Carolina’s employers and education leaders together to put career-connected learning to work, and summer academies are where that partnership becomes concrete,” said NCBCE Chair Juila Wright of Enbridge Gas. “In a matter of weeks, students earn college credit and credentials, employers meet their future workforce, and communities can thrive in the future.”
As electrification accelerates, the need for skilled electrical workers continues to grow. Careers Electric is a national initiative that equips students and workers with the skills required in today’s rapidly evolving energy, advanced manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors. Careers Electric Coalition members include major industry employers, national trade associations, workforce development organizations, labor and philanthropic partners. Careers Electric grantee partners include NCBCE, Wake Tech Community College, NC Community College System (NCCCS), NC Community College Foundation (NCCCF), and Electrical Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) Initially launched in North Carolina, the coalition is committed to supporting and scaling a workforce training model that is already delivering results for employers and workers.
“We’re honored that Careers Electric has been recognized by The BlackRock Foundation for its work to expand economic opportunity for individuals, families, and communities, and to meet the growing demand for skilled electrical workers,” said David Etzwiler, CEO of the Siemens Foundation. “We know there is more demand for training than our current training infrastructure can support. This investment will help expand that capacity and create more pathways into these careers, building on the strong coalition already at work in North Carolina.”
To learn more about the Careers Electric initiative or to join the coalition, visit CareersElectric.com.
About Siemens Foundation
The Siemens Foundation advances workforce development in focused fields, including manufacturing, electrification, and healthcare in the United States. Established in 1998, the Siemens Foundation has invested $174 million in the United States to support the development of U.S. workers by scaling best-practices and investing in workforce training and education. Through partnerships with national organizations, we work to improve individual lives and local communities. Further information is available at www.siemens-foundation.org.
About North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE)
The North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) is a business-led, education non-profit 501(c)(3) that operates out of the North Carolina Office of the Governor. Since 1983, NCBCE has provided a critical link between North Carolina business leaders and the state’s education decision makers, helping to create connections between the education curriculum and the overall work readiness of citizens across the state. Further information is available at ncbce.org.
