Industrial Maintenance Residency Program at McLeod Health Expands with $50,000 Power:Ed Grant
FLORENCE, SC – May 20, 2025 – During their orientation session, McLeod Health and Harbor Freight Fellows Initiative welcomed the Class of 2025 for the McLeod Industrial Maintenance Residency Program. Last year, the inaugural program had 11 participating high school or recently graduated students. Due to increased interest and demand, the program is expanding to include McLeod Health Clarendon, McLeod Health Cheraw, McLeod Health Dillon, McLeod Health Carolina Forest, McLeod Health Loris, and McLeod Health Seacoast.
The Industrial Maintenance Residency program is a partnership between McLeod Health, the Harbor Freight Fellows Initiative, and Big Picture Learning. The Harbor Freight Fellows Initiative elevates the respect and resources available to youth for whom a skilled trade is the chosen and appropriate post-secondary path to a fulfilling career. Participants receive a cash scholarship for completing a rigorous apprenticing experience on the job, doing real work alongside tradesperson mentors.
“Harbor Freight Fellows Initiative is a program developed by Big Picture Learning, a national leader in workplace learning for youth for 30 years, and the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Foundation,” said Charlie Plant, Harbor Freight Fellows National Coordinator. “Harbor Freight Fellows Initiative has been serving South Carolina youth, schools and industries for over seven years providing hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to youth, and stipends to teachers and workplace mentors.”
The inaugural hospital industrial maintenance youth apprenticeship program was seeded with a $25,000 grant awarded to Big Picture Learning from Power:Ed, the philanthropy of SC Student Loan Corporation. The funds were used to support scholarships for participants and cover the costs of their tools and work clothes. Last week, Power:Ed returned to McLeod Health to award a second grant to Big Picture Learning for $50,000 to support the expansion of the Industrial Maintenance Residency Program with McLeod Health and to other partners throughout the state.
“The outcomes from last year’s pilot program were exactly what we hoped for – students earned necessary skills that led to higher wage employment! We are pleased to continue that momentum and excited about the transformative impact this workforce development could have for rural communities across South Carolina,” said Power:Ed Executive Director Claire Gibbons. “It addresses the critical shortage of needed industrial maintenance technicians for hospitals as well as advanced manufacturers, and offers a pathway to prosperity for SC’s rural youth.”
“McLeod Health recognizes both the need to not only provide opportunities but also expand workforce development initiatives with youth,” said Ingrid Cherry, HR Manager, Workforce Development. “We see this program’s purpose as two-fold – to serve the community, and to develop a pipeline of competent, skilled, engaged youth who can move into responsible positions in McLeod’s facilities maintenance departments.”
Crishell Johnson, the SC Regional Coordinator for Harbor Freight Fellows Initiative has been leading the workplace mentorship opportunities for students in the state for the past seven years.
“The Industrial Maintenance Program not only allows participants to enhance their technical training but also assist with building the soft skills needed for the workplace,” said Johnson.
“At McLeod, students will learn things here not taught in their school,” said Cherry. “They gain hands on experience, learning as they go. Each will be cross trained in HVAC, electronics, plumbing and construction to make them well rounded technicians. For those interested in a trades career this is their opportunity to discover the areas they excel in.
“Facilities management positions are essential to our health system but can be challenging to fill. Many don’t realize you can have a career in facilities management. It is through this partnership that we can demonstrate the opportunities available and begin growing the pipeline at the high school level,” added Cherry.
In FY2024-25 Power:Ed awarded more than $1,000,000 in grants to 22 South Carolina education and career readiness organizations. In this final quarter, Power:Ed has awarded five grants (including this grant to BPL) totaling $212,000. Grants are administered quarterly, and the next grant funding deadline is July 1, 2025.
Big Picture Learning (BPL)
BPL has been at the work of evolving education to be more equitable and student-centered for over 25 years. It joins and leads local and national conversations, as well as partners with others whose collective efforts will influence the future of learning.
Harbor Freight Fellows Initiative (HFFI)
HFFI is an initiative of Big Picture Learning, in partnership with the Harbor Freight Tool company's Tools for Schools program. It supports youth for whom the trades are the appropriate and chosen post-secondary path to a fulfilling life as a professional and community member – especially those who have been historically marginalized in the trades through race, ethnicity, or gender bias.
McLeod Health
Founded in 1906, McLeod Health is a locally owned and managed, not for profit organization which includes seven hospitals: McLeod Regional Medical Center, McLeod Health Dillon, McLeod Health Loris, McLeod Health Seacoast, McLeod Health Cheraw, McLeod Health Clarendon and McLeod Behavioral Health, and more than 90 physician practices throughout its 18-county service area.
Power:Ed
Founded in 2019, Power:Ed, the philanthropy of SC Student Loan is dedicated to creating opportunities for South Carolina’s youth and adults by supporting low-income, underrepresented, and first-generation students; improving access to college and degree completion; and creating pathways to quality workforce opportunities. Organizations serving middle school through post-college talent who are interested in applying for a grant or partnering with Power:Ed, should visit power-ed.org.