Chevron Invests $630K to Boost ShaleNET Programs

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Pierpont Community & Technical College is one of four institutions receiving funds from Chevron Appalachia as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to area workforce development.

Since 2014, Chevron has invested more than $2.1 million in ShaleNET programs the region’s community and technical schools, including Pierpont, as well as Westmoreland County Community College and Pennsylvania College of Technology in Pennsylvania, and Stark State Community College in Ohio.

The latest investment, totaling $630,000 in ShaleNET education programs, comes as the energy industry matures and ShaleNET’s curriculum adapts to reflect the region’s need for a highly-skilled workforce. Today’s program model focuses on transferrable skills that enable successful careers across the growing energy and advanced manufacturing industries.

“We’re proud of our investment in regional ShaleNET programs, which help prepare and re-train a highly-skilled workforce for energy and manufacturing industry career opportunities,” Trip Oliver, manager of policy, government and public affairs for Chevron Appalachia, said in a news release. “Our success is linked to the region’s progress and we are proud to work with these institutions to provide education and training programs that support the region’s citizens and contribute to economic growth.”

Pierpont’s investment totals $155,517, which will help to provide scholarships to benefit full- and part-time students studying within the Petroleum Technology and Applied Process Technology programs, secure state-of-the-art industry equipment to provide students with hands-on experience as demanded by industry and provide support of Career Counselor position.

“The generous support that Chevron has provided to Pierpont’s Petroleum Technology and Applied Process Technology programs through scholarships, state-of-the-art industry equipment, and hands-on experience creates a highly skilled workforce and drives economic development for West Virginia,” Pierpont President Dr. Johnny Moore said. “Developing strong relationships with premier partners such as Chevron and ShaleNET has ensured that high-quality careers and the lifestyles they support are available now and for the foreseeable future.”

Chevron’s investment is part of the company’s Appalachia Partnership Initiative – a multi-year collaboration that works to close the region’s skills gap by enhancing STEM education and workforce training programs. This year’s ShaleNET investment provides scholarship assistance, expands professional staff to help graduates enter the workforce, enables schools to purchase new equipment, and boosts community outreach.

Highlights include:

  • More than $200,000 toward scholarship funds that will be used to offset student education costs.
  • More than $350,000 will be dedicated to securing state-of-the-art equipment to provide hands-on experience.
  • Additional funds will be used to hire career counselors at each school, who provide critical job placement support, as well as community outreach initiatives, including education forums and public school outreach.

ShaleNET graduates possess the technical skills needed for midstream and downstream positions in the energy industry and related industries, including advanced manufacturing, transportation, and plastics.





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