GTCC awarded $5 million grant to improve environmental and climate justice challenges on High Point campus

JAMESTOWN, N.C. (Dec. 13, 2024) – Guilford Technical Community College has been awarded a grant of more than $5 million as part of a $18.5 million Environmental Protection Agency grant to the Southwest Renewal Foundation in High Point to address environmental and climate justice challenges through a series of projects in the High Point area.

The grant is part of $1.6 billion in funding recently announced by the EPA for 105 selected applications from across the country.

GTCC’s funding will go toward the renovation of a site for the college’s new Skilled Trades Center on the High Point campus and support of students enrolling in programs at the center.

“We are grateful the EPA selected the SWRF grant and for GTCC to be involved in such an important and impactful endeavor for our community and students,” said GTCC President Anthony Clarke, Ph.D. “This funding will allow us to have a positive impact on the High Point community surrounding our downtown campus, while providing students with the best possible environment to learn high-demand skilled trades.”

The college will use grant funding to renovate the Johnson Warehouse, turning the 13,200-square-foot building into state-of-the-art facilities for four programs: HVAC, construction, hotel/apartment maintenance, and a program to be determined. A focal point will be workforce training for green jobs in HVAC and construction.

Once completed, the renovated facilities will be used to train about 75 students per year for green jobs that are projected to provide at least $40,000 a year in earnings and an annual economic impact of $3 million for the community.

GTCC will support students attending classes at the High Point Skilled Trades Center with a full-time career navigator, who will provide direct support to eligible and current students about career pathways, academic plans, goal identification, and barrier removal.

The grant will also cover the addition of two electric-powered 15-person vans to help remove transportation barriers allowing local residents means to travel to GTCC’s campus. An EV charging station will also be installed on the High Point campus.

Using funds from the grant, a work-based learning opportunity will also be created for GTCC students. In partnership with N.C. State University and the Piedmont Conservation Council, students in related environmental studies programs will assist the NCSU team with water quality testing along Richland Creek.

To read the full EPA press release, visit the EPA’s website.