Alcoa Foundation donates $20,000 to Stanly Community College

Nicole Wright presents a
$20,000 check from the
Alcoa Foundation to Christy
Bogle, executive director
of the Stanly Community
College Foundation.

Alcoa Foundation has awarded Stanly Community College a $20,000 grant to support its new Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Technology Center. The grant will fund the purchase of industrial equipment that will used to provide technical training for students.

“This Alcoa Foundation grant will help Stanly Community College educate and train our local workforce with the engineering and manufacturing skills they need to succeed,” said Nicole Wright, Alcoa Foundation Coordinator for APGI. “Alcoa and the Alcoa Foundation strongly support Stanly Community College and believe the new Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Technology Center will be incredibly valuable to our community.”

Stanly Community College is a primary provider of workforce training in the region, assisting in attracting new businesses to the area and providing continued training to those currently in the workforce. It launched a capital campaign last year to develop an Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Technology Center to enhance its existing workforce development programs.

“Alcoa has been a long-time partner of Stanly Community College, especially in the area of workforce development. We are grateful for its continued support,” said Dr. Brenda Kays, president of Stanly Community College. “This grant will help support our new Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Technology Center by providing much needed equipment to help our students learn new skills.”

The Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Technology Center will introduce new training programs specifically designed to support local industries. Students can receive degree programs with industry-recognized certifications to provide a clear path to employment. Areas of focus include welding, machinists, and industrial maintenance technicians.

ERI to add 75 new jobs at Badin Business Park

We just received some great news from ERI. They have announced plans to hire 75 more employees at Badin Business Park before the holiday season.

Electronic Recyclers International, the nation’s leading recycler of electronic waste, operates regional recycling centers across the country. The recycling center in Badin, NC opened in 2011 to cover the Southeast US. It is one of the company's fastest-growing locations.

“Our business is growing fast and we continue to expand at each of our locations around the country,” said John Shegerian, ERI’s Chairman and CEO. “Every year around the holidays we see a huge influx of unwanted electronics being discarded to make way for new and incoming gifts. We need more people to handle this surge now and who can develop their careers with us moving forward.”

People interested in applying for a job can submit a resume online at: www.electronicrecyclers.com/about-us/careers.aspx.

A wide range of positions are available, including CRT Dismantler, E-Scrap Sorter, Forklift Operator, Repair Specialists and many other warehouse positions. Click here to read the ERI announcement.

APGI completes Tuckertown boat ramp improvements

The repairs and improvements to the concrete boat ramp at the Highway 49 Boat Access Area in Stanly County have been completed and Tuckertown Reservoir is once again full.

The new concrete boat ramp at Hwy. 49
Boat Access Area is not complete.

Alcoa Power Generating Inc. temporarily lowered Tuckertown so it could perform the work last week. Lake levels returned to normal on Monday.

“Boaters can now enjoy the new concrete ramp, which has been repaired and extended to make it safer and easier to load or unload boats,” said Karen Baldwin, APGI Natural Resources Manager. “The project was completed on time and lake levels quickly returned to normal.”

Alcoa employees volunteer at Community Inn in Albemarle

Volunteers from Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI) in Badin took time out of their workday last week to feed the homeless at the Community Inn in Albemarle. The employees helped feed 100 people and provided a $1,500 donation to support Community Inn. 

“It’s important to give back and support the people in our community who need a helping hand,” said Nicole Wright, Alcoa Foundation Coordinator for APGI. “The Community Inn provides a valuable service to families in Stanly County and we’re glad that APGI can support their efforts by donating our time and money.”

The Community Inn is an emergency housing facility that assists people who need a place to stay for a short period of time. It is part of Homes for Hope, a non-profit organization that works to reduce homelessness in Stanly County by individuals and families with the support they need to gain independence and become successful community members.

The volunteer effort was part of Alcoa’s “Month of Service” that encourages employees across the world to support their local communities through donations of time and money. Last year, Alcoa employees spent more than 700,000 hours volunteering during the month of October.

During the “Month of Service,” APGI employees also helped pack meals for students at Aquadale Elementary School in Norwood to support the Weekend Food Program that provides healthy, non-perishable meals for students during the weekend.