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:

JYFNetWorks

Target Area: Lowell

The Solar Installation Technician Training Program will create
new career pathways for low-income and immigrant residents of Greater Lowell, while meeting the rising entry-level workforce needs of the Lowell area’s growing solar-installation business market. Program graduates will be qualified
for entry-level positions as solar panel installers and to take the entry-level
certification exam from the North American Board of Certified Energy
Practitioners. 

Quinsigamond Community College

 Target
Area: Worcester

The Worcester Green Collar Jobs Project will
respond to the workforce needs of an emerging “green” employment sector in Central Massachusetts, providing quality jobs and career pathways for
unemployed, underemployed, underserved and low-income residents. The project will include a pre-apprenticeship program, a photovoltaic (PV) “boot camp,”
weatherization technician and energy auditor training, career coaching and job placement. In addition, the project is expected to result in increased energy efficiency in low-income neighborhoods.

Massasoit Community College

Target
Area: Brockton
 

The Brockton Green Jobs Pathways
Partnership will expand Brockton’s workforce
in the fields of energy efficiency and solar PV installation, targeting
unemployed or underemployed Brockton residents to develop skills needed for jobs with family-sustaining wages. The
initiative is designed to address skill and competency gaps identified by
employers and will train workers for positions such as solar PV installation
assistant, solar PV product sales representative, weatherization technician,
energy auditing assistant, and green product sales representative.  

Regional
Employment Board of Hampden County, Inc.

Target
Area: Springfield/Holyoke

The Springfield-Holyoke Gateway to Green
Jobs project will provide career ladder opportunities in the clean energy
field for targeted local populations, including women, youth, minorities, and
non-English speaking and low-income individuals. Driven by employer needs, the initiative will provide training in occupations such as solar boiler
installation, energy auditing, weatherization, and manufacturing of a new
proprietary window sealing product.

Berkshire Community College

Target
Area: Pittsfield

The Clean Energy Sector Pathways Program will
prepare low-income, unemployed and dislocated workers for entry-level job opportunities in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, providing them with the basic skills, education and hands-on training needed to qualify for “green collar” jobs. Selected individuals will participate in a program
leading to a Certificate in Energy Conservation, as well as other clean energy industry credentials. Ultimately, the program will create a Berkshire County Green Jobs Corps comprising workers qualified for placement into sustainable clean energy jobs.