Grant Powers Campus Facilities Upgrade

Western Piedmont Community College has received funding to complete a key facilities upgrade.

The Western Piedmont Foundation has received a $269,667 grant from the Cannon Charitable Interests through the Charles A. Cannon Charitable Trust No. 1 to complete the installation of new electrical panels in the buildings on WPCC’s main campus. Cannon previously awarded a $400,000 grant through the same trust to fund the electrical panel project.

The college’s insurance company inspected the original panels, manufactured by Federal Pacific, a few years ago and declared them to be outdated and required an upgrade to continue coverage, according to Dr. Joel Welch, college president. The panels date back from the late 1960s through the 1970s.

Smart Electric Co. Inc. of Connelly Springs is installing the Square D panels, switchboards, panelboards, disconnect switches and transformers in eight buildings. The new equipment will be more energy efficient, according to Sandy Hoilman, WPCC vice president of administrative services and chief financial officer.

“At this point, we are 92.8% complete with the project,” Hoilman said. “Remaining aspects include finishing the panel replacements in Patton Hall, which is scheduled for over the Christmas 2026 break; installing surge protection devices for four buildings (C, F, Moore Hall, and Patton Hall) and replacement of a transformer in the boiler room.”

The project is expected to be completed by early January 2027.

“We are deeply grateful to the trust for their generous grant, which will allow us to upgrade critical electrical panels on our campus,” said Mackenzie Bostian Adams, WPF executive director. “This project is vital to maintaining the infrastructure that supports our classrooms, labs and learning environments.”

Published: 7/23/2026