ASHEBORO — In its ongoing efforts to supplement state and local funding for programs, equipment and facilities, Randolph Community College recently sought and has been awarded significant funding from four sources that will support two curriculum programs, an internal lighting project and its library services.

RCC received $248,222 for its Welding for the Workplace program from the Duke Energy Community College Grant Program.

Anne Hockett, vice president for instructional services, said the funding will be used to buy and install state-of-the-industry welding equipment and a welding simulator at RCC’s Archdale Center. RCC intends to offer a one-year welding diploma program in addition to its continuing education welding courses for current welders to upgrade their skills and become certified in four types of welding. Hockett said RCC is partnering with Superior Mechanical Inc. in Randleman as part of the program to meet the company’s need for trained welders.

An advisory committee for the welding program will establish a timeline for implementation of the program. The welding program will take over Building B at the Archdale Center, while RCC’s taxidermy program courses will be consolidated at the Asheboro Campus.

Officials with the Duke Energy Community College Grant Program said Duke Energy has recognized that, even though the Carolinas have top-rated community and technical colleges, budgetary constraints present challenges for them.

They added that Duke Energy’s Community and Technical College Grant Program provides a financial boost that helps enable college systems to extend their expertise, to provide rewarding opportunities for students, and ultimately to help revitalize manufacturing in the Carolinas.

RCC has also received $200,000 in grant funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation to acquire machining equipment for its machining technology program, which will be relocated to the new Continuing Education and Industrial Center in the old Klaussner Furniture plant building when that building is renovated.

Several local manufacturers had indicated the equipment would be vital in training future employees needed for their workforces.

The Golden LEAF Foundation supports activities that will improve social and economic conditions in economically affected or tobacco-dependent regions of the state. The two new pieces of machining equipment, a HAAS VF-2 CNC Machining Center and a HAAS ST-20 CNC Turning Center, will be located temporarily in the existing machining lab in the Administration/Education Center on the Asheboro Campus.

“These new machines will allow our students to train in areas of high-tech, advanced manufacturing,” said Mitchell Kiser, chair of the Industrial, Engineering and Transportation Division at RCC.

Funding received from the N.C. Department of Commerce through the State Energy Office in the amount of $154,410 will be used by RCC to install more energy efficient lighting and lighting control panels at its Asheboro Campus. The funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are designed to encourage energy conservation.

Cindi Goodwin, RCC director of facilities, said the use of T-8 lighting and lighting control technology in a 20,000-square-foot addition to the Archdale Center in 2006 saved RCC an estimated $5,780 in energy costs the first year.

RCC has worked toward implementing energy conservation projects since 2004, but didn’t have the funds to complete re-lamping and installing occupancy sensors throughout the Asheboro Campus.

“With the assistance of the State Energy Office grant, our College can complete this project and save 1,774,937,476 BTUs and an estimated $73,461 in energy costs per year,” she said.

In addition, RCC’s Library has been notified that it will receive a $23,935 Library Services and Technology Act Basic Equipment Grant from the State Library of North Carolina to improve and increase access to the Internet.

At present, the RCC Library on the Asheboro Campus has 17 Internet workstations and availability has been increasingly strained by the school’s growing student population and community use.

There are currently 605 community residents registered at the RCC Library, and a three-hour time limit is enforced for county visitors to ensure adequate access for students.

Funds from this grant will be used to buy 26 new computers and monitors for Internet access; an additional pair of computers to replace existing print servers; and two flatbed scanners for use in converting documents into digital format for submission via the Internet, such as employment applications, financial aid documents and distance education coursework.