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•           Stimulus money to be used
•           Could train over 20,000 ‘clean energy workers’

The state of California says more than 20,000 residents are expected to be trained for jobs in “green” industries under a new $75 million program dubbed the “Clean Energy Workforce Training Program.” It’s the nation’s largest state-sponsored green jobs training program, the governor’s office claims. “By developing a highly-trained workforce, ready and capable to perform clean energy jobs, we will be able to expand our clean energy industries and drive a strong green economy in the state,” says Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. “This program is critical because it will target unemployed, underemployed and new members of the workforce at a time when we must do everything possible to help Californians return to work.”

The program will use $20 million in federal stimulus money along with public-private partnerships and state and local funding to pay for the training, the governor says. The program targets populations of unemployed workers, particularly from the construction sector, existing workers requiring re-skilling to prepare for clean energy industry, low-wage workers and youth preparing to enter the workforce. It will support regional workforce training programs at community colleges or workforce investment boards and partnership academies in high schools that deliver training on professional and personal skills development for energy efficiency, water efficiency, renewable energy and clean transportation. The first solicitation for proposals from this program was released on Aug, 6. Regional training partnerships can apply for $46 million in regional workforce development programs: $23 million in Recovery Act and state funding and $23 million in matching funds from public–private partnerships.

http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=12943