Avangrid Foundation and Central Maine Power Join Kennebec Valley Community College in Celebration of New Milestone in Education Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FAIRFIELD, MAINE — October 31, 2018 — Aligning education with the needs of local business took center stage at Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) today. People from the college, the Maine Community College System, the Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges, Central Maine Power Company (CMP), and Avangrid Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the utility’s parent company AVANGRID (NYSE:AGR) gathered to celebrate the renovation of the Nutter Field House, home to the college’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program.
A $250,000 grant from the Avangrid Foundation, contributed in $50,000 increments over the past five years, helped to fund the $1.39 million renovation of the Nutter Field House to new classroom space for the KVCC Electrical Lineworker Technology program.
“We are proud to recognize and honor the long standing partnership between the Avangrid Foundation, Central Maine Power Company, and KVCC,” said Rick Hopper, president of Kennebec Valley Community College. “This important gift has helped the college to make significant upgrades to the learning environment to ensure the best preparation for our graduates to enter the demanding profession of electrical line work.”
In expressing her gratitude for the support of KVCC’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program, Audrey Thomson, president of the Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges, noted that partnerships with local businesses are a key to the success of Maine’s community colleges.
“The impact of gifts like this is significant and can be seen across the state on the campuses of our seven community colleges,” she said. “We are focused on making sure our colleges have the resources to provide education and training that is relevant, affordable, and meets the changing needs of Maine's economy.”
Derek Langhauser, president of the Maine Community College System, also expressed his thanks to the Avangrid Foundation for its support of the program.
“The graduates this program delivers are on the front lines of providing service to Maine people and are never more appreciated than during an ice storm,” he said. “We are incredibly proud of our training which enables these important careers."
Robert Kump, CEO of Avangrid Networks and member of the Avangrid Foundation Board of Directors, noted that education is a key focus of the company’s philanthropic giving program.
“When we learned of KVCC’s ambitious plans to upgrade the facilities for its Electrical Lineworker Technology program, we were happy to help,” he said. “Along with giving the college a financial boost to create this great space for learning important skills, we have also been able to help some deserving students with scholarships.”
CMP President and CEO Doug Herling noted the key role KVCC plays in helping local businesses find skilled workers.
“So much has been reported about Maine’s skills gap and the challenges many companies, including CMP, face in the search for workers with the education and skills for available positions,” he said. “Graduates of the KVCC program have the education, skills, and most importantly, the commitment to safety that CMP requires of new employees. They are productive beginning on day one, they make a great starting wage, and there are many opportunities for advancement.”
The open house included a tour of classroom space and demonstrations of the hands-on training students receive through this program.
More than 570 students have completed the program since its inception in 1990. Following graduation, 91.3% are employed within six months, earning an average salary of $60,908.
CMP has a long history of supporting the KVCC Electrical Lineworker Technology program with donations of funding, equipment, and expertise. Many of the bucket trucks, poles, and other equipment used in the program came to the college as donations from the utility. CMP and the Avangrid Foundation have also provided nearly $60,000 in scholarships for students seeking to enroll in the program.
About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) is a leading, sustainable energy company with approximately $32 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states. AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving 3.2 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates 7.1 gigawatts of electricity capacity, primarily through wind power, with a presence in 22 states across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 6,500 people. AVANGRID supports the U.N.’s Sustainability Development Goals, received a Climate Development Project climate score of “A-,” the top score received in the utilities sector, and has been recognized for two consecutive years by Ethical Boardroom as the North American utility with the “best corporate governance practices.” For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.
About Avangrid Foundation: Avangrid Foundation coordinates and funds energy sustainability, environmental, social responsibility and educational programs in areas where AVANGRID and its subsidiaries operate. For more information, visit the Avangrid Foundation section of www.avangrid.com.
About CMP: Central Maine Power Company (CMP), a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc., is Maine’s largest electricity transmission and distribution utility. Established in 1899, CMP operates approximately 23,500 miles of distribution lines and 2,900 miles of transmission lines. It serves approximately 624,000 customers across 346 communities in central and southern Maine. For more information, visit www.cmpco.com.
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