Governor Patrick announces efforts to boost commonwealth’s clean energy workforce

One of the provisions of the Green Jobs Act that passed last summer was that there be money set aside for workforce training projects focused on low and moderate income residents of the Commonwealth that want to enter the emerging green economy. Last month, the Clean Energy Center announced the 5 grants from that program. We have attached the press release. In summary, the five grant went to:

The Green Communities Act, passed in MA last summer, requires the utility companies to meet new demand for power through demand reducation and energy efficiency measures. To meet this legislative requirement, the utiltiy companies have developed a plan that will dramatically reduce energy use, save customers money as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions in an amount equivalent to taking 40% of the cars of the road. It will also create jobs. (See the Reuters news service announcement http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS159842+05-May-2009+BW20090505

And here's where community based workforce development organizations come in...but how??

- teach about energy efficiency and how to take advantage of this utility sponsored efficiency program; have a representative from your community action agency or the utility come to talk to staff and students

What community based workforce development organizations are good at is working with local employers to create a pool of ready employees. It is the strength of these collaborations between employers, the wd system and community members that makes the work of wd cbos successful.

How do green jobs fit with this? There is hype and hope out there about green jobs. And there are even green jobs out there (and we believe more coming). What's a wd cbo to do? The answer is keep on doing the good work you've been doing: your industry research, your local networking with employers and your wib board, assessment, education, training and support to students and trainees.

MA is building a statewide weatherization, energy efficiency and building sciences training system.

NOW is the time to bring your unique expertise about serving low-income, under-skilled individuals to this process. The scope of this endeavor is huge - and so is the opportunity to build career pathways from your program (be it an adult literacy program or a job readiness/skilll training program) to this training system.

The Clean Energy Center issued the RFR late in February, the CommPASS system has the details (search for energy efficiency) and the bidders conference is Thurs. March 19. The proposals are due in late April. Get yourself to the planning table!!! Community based wd programs have a lot to offer and this industry sector holds promise for your students and clients.

One of the things that the Green Jobs Bill (passed this summer) did was to create a new quasi-public entity. The Clean Energy Technology Center is designed to attract and create green industries, which includes seeding the required labor pipeline. The Center will fund several things: 

The new deadline for submission is January 29 at 12 noon.

This extension serves community based workforce development organizations well: good skills training programs are embedded in communities and include partnerships with employers, other training and education entities and the public workforce development system. To work these connections must be well-crafted and that takes time. MWA is pleased that EOEEA has extended the deadline.

For those of you interested in looking at the RFR in detail, here's the link: http://www.mass.gov/Eoeea/docs/eea/grants/pathways_rfr.pdf

The green jobs legislation that passed this summer holds great opportunity for development of skill training for green industry sectors. Programs across the Commonwealth know what it takes to create effective training. You know that effective training needs to include:

*a curricula geared to meet and exceed industry needs

*active partnerships with employers to ensure spot-on training, sequencing and accurate projections of job availability

*support for participants, including childcare and transportation, that enables participants to continue and complete training successfully

*basic education - math, reading, writing, English - as well as work-readiness prep

*links to other players in the workforce development system for outreach, assessment, recruitment and further training, as well as additional supports

Thank yous all around - to legislators and their staff, to advocates, to community leaders and members. Massachusetts has a green jobs bill!

And now we're ready to figure out how to create jobs in multiple green industry sectors, for MA residents with varying skills and in different communities across the state.

This is YOUR invitation to roll up your sleeves and think with others in your community, with employers and with skill training and education organizations. What will work where you are?? Build a local answer to these questions and share it with others. We have much to learn and we already know.

Comment here with your ideas, questions and concerns!