Tech College Gets $20,000 for Welding Training

South Carolina students in welding and mechatronics programs at Williamsburg Technical College will train on new industry-backed resources.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Scholarships

Tech College Gets $20,000 for Welding Training

Live Poll

Do you think local technical colleges are preparing students well for jobs?

Duke Energy Foundation awarded training funds to nine technical colleges across South Carolina, including $20,000 to Williamsburg Technical College. The grant is designed to strengthen hands-on training for students entering skilled trades.

Why it matters

Duke Energy is expanding job opportunities with a new facility in Anderson County and will need a skilled South Carolina workforce to fill those roles. Funding for welding and mechatronics programs helps local colleges prepare students for those openings at a lower cost to the student than many private training routes.

Williamsburg Technical College received $20,000 from the Duke Energy Foundation to enhance its Welding and Mechatronics programs. The award is one of nine training grants given to technical colleges statewide, and the release does not list individual eligibility rules or enrollment caps.

The players

Duke Energy Foundation

The philanthropic arm of Duke Energy that funds workforce and training programs at colleges in the utility's service areas.

Williamsburg Technical College

A public two-year technical college in South Carolina offering career-focused certificate and associate programs at a lower tuition cost than four-year universities.

The details

Williamsburg Technical College applied for the grant in early 2026 with the goal of strengthening its Welding and Mechatronics programs. The money is intended to support hands-on training in welding, fabrication, and automation, the equipment-heavy skills employers in energy and industrial work look for. Students in these programs typically gain practical lab experience alongside classroom instruction, which is the kind of training the grant is meant to expand.

Williamsburg Technical College applied for the grant in early 2026.
Spring Semester registration at Williamsburg Technical College opens on Nov. 30, 2026.

Education Landscape

Technical colleges in South Carolina serve as a lower-cost route into skilled jobs, while four-year degrees remain the dominant path for many students. Corporate-funded grants like this one show how employers are increasingly investing directly in the training pipeline they will hire from.

Students interested in welding, fabrication, or mechatronics can ask Williamsburg Technical College's admissions or financial-aid office whether the new equipment will affect program capacity or start dates. Prospective students should check registration timing for the Spring Semester and speak with the school's financial-aid office about available aid options.

The takeaway

Industry-funded training grants can expand hands-on program capacity at lower-cost technical colleges, which may be worth considering alongside other career paths. Students interested in these fields should confirm program details and aid options directly with the school before enrolling.

What happens next

Spring Semester registration at Williamsburg Technical College opens on Nov. 30, 2026, the date students can enroll in the programs this grant is meant to strengthen.