Efficiency First

Sacramento leverages ARRA funding to jump-start nation’s largest state-sponsored green workforce development program

Last week California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced details of phase one grant awards for the new California Clean Energy Workforce Training Program, a public-private partnership that leverages $20 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds along with state, local and private funding sources for a $75 million investment in clean energy job training and apprenticeships.

The first round of 34 grants will channel $27 million to technical and community colleges and workforce investment boards to prepare 5,600 workers for hands-on jobs related to energy efficiency, water efficiency, renewable energy, and alternative and renewable transportation technologies. Over time, the program is expected to train or retrain more than 20,000 Californians for a wide range of clean energy jobs.

State press release announcing the program: http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/13105

State press release detailing the phase one grants: http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/13454

California Energy Commission Clean Energy Workforce Training Program Web site: http://www.energy.ca.gov/greenjobs