The Watertown Public Schools received a Student and Young Adult Career Awareness and Training grant of $250,000 from the Mass. Clean Energy Center in the state’s effort to grown Massachusetts’ clean energy workforce.
The funds will be used to launch the High-Performance Buildings initiative to deliver clean energy career exposure and hands-on learning opportunities to a broad student population, according to the announcement from MassCEC. The grant was one of 22 awarded in category, with a total amount awarded of $4.7 million in the category and $27 million overall. See more information in the announcement, below.
The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced more than $27 million in grants through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) to grow the state’s clean energy and climatetech workforce. The funding will support training programs, career awareness initiatives, and business development efforts, which will reach more than 13,000 individuals and hundreds of businesses in Massachusetts communities over the next three years. The announcement was made at Greater Lawrence Technical School in Andover, where Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper, MassCEC Interim CEO Jennifer Le Blond, and grant recipients gathered to mark the occasion.
“This funding will give thousands of residents the training and support they need to start good-paying careers in these cutting-edge industries,” said Governor Maura Healey. “It’s an investment in our people and in the long-term strength of our economy.”
“This funding gives communities across Massachusetts the support they need to help residents build new skills, explore new interests, and find real opportunities in this burgeoning industry,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. “It will strengthen local training programs and create clear pathways to meaningful careers that strengthen our communities and our state’s economy.”
MassCEC’s workforce development funding will support 67 organizations through six programs: Equity Workforce Training Implementation, Climate-Critical Workforce Training, Equipment, and Infrastructure, Climate-Critical Underrepresented Business Support, Equity Workforce Planning and Capacity, Student and Young Adult Career Awareness and Training, and the Massachusetts Climate Career Fund.
These awards will help expand training and upskilling opportunities for residents, provide hands-on career exposure for students and young adults, fund equipment and facility upgrades that strengthen training programs, and increase support for underrepresented businesses in the clean energy sector.
“With over 115,000 clean energy workers in Massachusetts, we need to expand opportunities to support a strong, skilled workforce for the future,” said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “These programs connect residents with hands-on experience, industry partnerships, and real pathways to jobs that are in demand.”
“The workers receiving this funding will go on to implement and maintain clean energy and climate technologies across Massachusetts, helping us lower energy costs, protect communities, and improve quality of life,” said MassCEC Interim CEO Dr. Jennifer Le Blond. “These 67 organizations, ranging from technical schools to unions, are growing a diverse pipeline of talent and setting workers on the path to successful, sustainable careers. This is what equitable workforce development looks like—creating access, opportunity, and investment.”
See the full list of grantees and more information by clicking here.