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National Grid and workforce development partners celebrate recipients of Electric Worker Scholarship during signing ceremony

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National Grid and its workforce development partners held a signing ceremony for the first six recipients of the National Grid Electric Worker Scholarship, a new program designed to assist students as they pursue their education at Hudson Valley Community College during the 2024-2025 academic year and explore careers as electrical workers.

The scholarship will cover tuition, fees, books, and tools, recipients will receive one-on-one mentoring from National Grid electric workers who will share career advice and guidance on school work, if needed. The students will also be invited to visit National Grid headquarters, do some job shadowing, and learn about job opportunities with the utility. Through the program, National Grid intends to demonstrate its commitment to the students’ academic success and their future careers.

National Grid will be investing more than $4 billion in its upstate New York electric transmission system in the next seven years. This work will require about 1,700 workers to complete across upstate making recruitment for new electric line workers a priority for the utility.

“The demand for electric line workers has increased over the past five years, both locally and across the country, and this trend will continue to grow as baby boomers and Gen X line workers begin to exit the utility workforce through retirement. At the same time, the number of projects that require this kind of expertise is also rapidly increasing. National Grid sees this scholarship program as an opportunity to encourage a diverse group of students to enter a field that is both fulfilling and in demand. Students who graduate from Hudson Valley’s programs can look forward to well-paying and meaningful jobs, and we hope some of them will consider joining us at National Grid,” said Brian Gemmell, National Grid NY COO Electric.

Student recipients include Brian Barnett of Albany; Peyton Bramer of Johnstown; and Victorius Foulks, Robert Hamilton, A’zari Johnson, and Jermain Rehm, all of Troy.

Several National Grid team members and representatives of Hudson Valley Community College, IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) Local 97, and the Capital Region Workforce Development Board gathered at National Grid headquarters in Albany today to celebrate the students as they signed commitment letters to join the program.

“In an effort to complement the financial investment we are making in our scholarship awardees, we are committed to a student engagement component to help foster relationships between students and our line workers and increase the likelihood of students completing the program and becoming eligible for employment in the field. We are committed to helping them succeed,” said Matt Barnett, National Grid VP, Maintenance & Construction.

National Grid IBEW Local 97 Vice President Joseph Peluso said, “National Grid and Hudson Valley Community College have had a great relationship in the past years when it comes to educating and training our future workforce. Local 97 is honored to be a part of such a wonderful opportunity that has been in the works for a long time and want to thank the team at National Grid that has made this become a reality. There is a large gap when it comes to the labor workforce and the expected energy goals of New York State. We need more colleges and vocational schools to follow the guidelines and road map that National Grid and Hudson Valley Community College have laid out for our future youth to be successful in the energy sector. I am positive that receipts of these scholarships with the support of their families, the great school of Hudson Valley and the opportunity to have mentors from both the outside union worker force and the great management team of National Grid these students are set up for the opportunity of a lifetime to have and long and prosperous career within National Grid.”

“National Grid’s Electric Worker Scholarship program provides an unprecedented opportunity for Hudson Valley students pursuing advanced education and careers in the electrical industry," said Hudson Valley Community College's Officer in Charge Louis Coplin. "Our professors and academic leaders have worked with National Grid for many years to successfully train a skilled workforce, and this new scholarship program provides a massive boost to our recruitment and retention initiatives. I share my sincere appreciation with National Grid for its commitment to the college and its students, and for providing the necessary resources, mentorship, and real-world experience to guarantee they have every opportunity to succeed in college and build a career in a high-demand field in our region." 

To be eligible, students must be enrolled either part time or full time in Hudson Valley Community College’s Electrical Construction Maintenance (AOS) degree program or its Overhead Electric Line Worker Certificate program.

Scholarship recipients were selected on the basis of academic record, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, work experience, unusual personal or family circumstances (if applicable), and financial need. In addition, applicants were asked to write a statement about why they are pursuing a degree in Electrical Construction Maintenance (AOS) or certification as an Overhead Electric Line Worker.

“Providing investment and access to career pathways in demand industries such as the electric power industry is the gateway to a great family-sustaining career,” said Brian Williams, executive director of the Capital Region Workforce Development Board. “National Grid is a true champion in our workforce development system, partnering with key educational providers such as HVCC and our Capital Region Career Centers, to ensure that each trainee has not only the training, but also the supportive services to be successful in building a skilled workforce.”

NYS Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, who attended today’s ceremony, said, “Of all of the signing days I attend, this to me is one of the more exciting and critical as we look to build our future electric worker workforce. The strong partnership between Hudson Valley Community College and National Grid prepares tomorrow's workers, which could not come at a more critical time as we build out our electric transmission grid which is critical to help us meet the goals established by New York's Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (CLCPA). The partnership is a true win-win as we build out our workforce for a truer and greener tomorrow while providing young men and women an accelerated program to learn a skill and join the workforce at a good middle-class wage. Thank you to National Grid and HVCC for their support and to the students who signed up for a better tomorrow!”

NYS Senator Jake Ashby, also in attendance at today’s event, said “These scholarships will create rewarding careers, provide reliable pathways to the middle class, and literally keep the lights on for Capital Region families who rely on these critically important workers. I am grateful to National Grid for investing in these promising students, and I’m grateful for HVCC’s ongoing commitment to workforce development."

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future — transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information, please visit our website, follow us on X (formerly Twitter), watch us on YouTube, like us on Facebook and find us on Instagram.

Media Contacts

Patrick Stella

Albany (Eastern NY)

(518) 433-3838

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