CEWD and State Energy Workforce Consortia Selected to Participate in Quality Green Jobs Regional Challenge

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 20, 2023) – The Center for Energy Workforce Development is proud to have been selected as one of 20 organizations that will partner with Jobs for the Future (JFF) and the Ares Charitable Foundation in the Quality Green Jobs Regional Challenge. Read more in the blog post HERE. The challenge is part of an initiative by Climate-Resilient Employees for a Sustainable Tomorrow (CREST), a career preparation and reskilling initiative of the Ares Foundation, which is addressing climate risk and equity to build a green, resilient, and inclusive economy for all. The challenge will invest nearly $5 million in communities to develop and implement regional quality green job strategies.

Specifically, the challenge is intended to:

Offer green job training and placement in quality jobs to 25,000 individuals in diverse regions
across the United States and U.S. Territories;
Pilot strategies intended to disrupt occupational segregation in the green economy with a focus on racial, gender, and systemic inequities; and
Help 100,000 people gain a deeper understanding of regional climate-related challenges and opportunities in the labor market.

CEWD’s proposal was selected from a pool of over 100 applicants and proposes a collaborative partnership among CEWD, the Michigan Energy Development Workforce Consortium, Minnesota State Energy Center of Excellence, the Virginia Energy Workforce Consortium, and energy employers and community-based organizations within those states. CEWD and its partnership team will work with coaches over the next several months to 1) refine plans to create training programs for select green jobs in the energy sector, in collaboration with community-based organizations and/or community educators; 2) recruit individuals from underrepresented communities into training programs, in partnership with community-based organizations; 3) create materials to educate the public about green energy jobs and 4) support individuals pursuing industry training with necessary wrap-around support services.

“We are proud to have been selected as a member of the Quality Green Jobs Regional Challenge cohort,” noted Missy Henriksen, CEWD’s Executive Director. Henriksen added, “we are grateful to JFF and the Ares Charitable Foundation for supporting the work of our partnership team to learn how we can support essential training for people who will build, sustain, engineer, innovate, manage, advance, and protect our energy system while safeguarding natural resources.”

Through the challenge process, CEWD and its partners will learn from challenge leaders and refine program ideas, with the hopes of being selected for an implementation grant.

About the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD)

The Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) is a non-profit consortium of energy companies, contractors, associations, unions, educators, and business partners working together to ensure a skilled, diverse workforce pipeline to meet future industry needs. CEWD’s coordinated approach to workforce development has united electric, natural, gas, and nuclear firms since 2006 and in 2021, in response to the need for expanded collaboration, the Center expanded its umbrella to include the workforce development needs of those working in renewables, electric vehicle infrastructure, and energy storage. Further, recognizing the merits of strategists working together, CEWD now welcomes business partners as associate members.

CEWD represents more than 120 energy companies In addition the Center is grateful for its partnership and support from the American Gas Association, American Public Gas Association, American Public Power Association, Distribution Contractors Association, Edison Electric Institute, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Nuclear Energy Institute and Utilities Technology Council. Visit www.CEWD.org for more information.

About Climate-Resilient Employees for a Sustainable Tomorrow (CREST)
CREST is a five-year, $25 million career preparation and reskilling initiative of the Ares Charitable Foundation (the Ares Foundation) that aims to help close the gap between the demand for a skilled workforce for green jobs and the number of people prepared for these opportunities. Working with our partners and local communities, the Ares Foundation can deepen our impact, harness new opportunities, and help create a green, resilient future that benefits generations to come.

About Jobs for the Future (JFF)
JFF drives transformation of the American workforce and education systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. www.jff.org

CREST and JFF
Climate change is causing shifts to the economy across all industries, creating a need for new jobs that require workers with new skills and capabilities. JFF is committed to supporting learners and workers to access and advance in quality green jobs through workforce development and upskilling solutions. By targeting opportunities for people who face systemic barriers to advancement, JFF will address both climate risk and equity to build a green, resilient and inclusive economy for all. To learn more, please visit www.jff.org/crest.

ORGINALLY RELEASED BY CEWD:https://cewd.org/green-jobs-regional-challenge/