The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership Announces Two Regional Workforce Hubs to Train Residents for ‘Clean Energy’ Careers

The Partnership’s network is utilizing two grants from the Illinois’ Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) to recruit and train more than 400 residents on Chicago’s South and West Sides

CHICAGO—(October 30, 2024) – The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (The Partnership) introduced today two regional Workforce Hubs that will recruit and provide clean energy and related workforce training to more than 400 jobseekers at no cost to them. The two Hubs are part of a network of 13 Hubs in the state as part of the Illinois Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, funded by the state’s Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA). The program is designed to offer workforce development to historically underrepresented communities and residents.

The Partnership received more than $6 million to fund the two Workforce Hubs, to train more than 400 regional residents on Chicago’s South and West Sides. The funding covers stipends, tuition and other wrap around services to qualified candidates. The Hubs will engage with potential employers, community-based organizations, educational institutions, and community-based and labor-based training providers to ensure program-eligible individuals across the State have dedicated and sustained support to enter and build clean energy careers.

“We chose six outstanding community-based organizations in our network to serve as links to these Workforce Hubs,” said George Wright, CEO of The Partnership. “The Hubs will provide two training programs, a Bridge Program and then a Job Specific Training Program, at no cost to the participants.  These programs will ready participants for roles in in-demand careers, such as Weatherization and HVAC professionals, Solar Photovoltaic Installer, Electric Vehicle Charging Station Installer and Hybrid Auto Technician.”

The Bridge Program is a portion of the overall CEJA Curriculum Framework that addresses essential employability skills and clean energy basics to help participants succeed in an array of clean energy jobs and workplaces.  The Program lasts up to four weeks, during which participants receive a stipend.  The Bridge Program also prepares participants for the Job-Specific Technical Training options and will lead students to obtain, at a minimum, an OSHA-10 certification and a First Aid/CPR certification. Participant tuition costs are covered by the Program.

Some clean energy employers may be interested in hiring people directly from the Bridge Program.  After participants complete the Bridge Program, they will be directed to the Job-Specific training options, which can last from one to three months, based on the chosen specialty.

Interested residents should visit https://chicookworks.org/ceja to learn more about the program.