Cape Fear Community College has been awarded a $633,408 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, according to a news release. 

The grant funds will support the electrical lineworker training program that the college began in June 2018, the release stated. 

“This is fantastic news for our growing electrical lineworker program,” said Jim Morton, president of CFCC, in a news release. “With programs like these, the college is helping to drive economic development in our region and training people for jobs that will give them a better livelihood."

According to CFCC statistics, 144 students have graduated from CFCC’s electrical lineworker program thus far, and the program is growing in popularity, the release stated.

“This program can be life-changing,” said John Downing, dean of continuing education at Cape Fear Community College, in the release. “It’s not for everyone.  It’s hard work, and the conditions can be challenging -- but  CFCC’s program is top-notch.  We are training these students to work smart and safe." 

He said program graduates can step quickly into an important, high-paying career. 

"We’re working closely with employers in the industry to ensure that our training matches their needs and we’ve had great success.  Our graduates are being hired," Downing said in the release. "This grant will help us build a training facility for overhead and underground work.  This addition will help us to further develop our program and enhance the skill sets of our graduates.”

CFCC’s next electrical lineworker class begins Oct. 1, the release stated, but it's full. A new class is scheduled to begin Jan. 6, 2020.