JobTrain and PG&E Partner for Careers in Energy Week

MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- JobTrain is participating in CAREERS IN ENERGY WEEK by launching a job fair on Wednesday, from 2:00-5:00pm, featuring representatives from the Get Into Energy Career Pathways program and the College of San Mateo's Electrical Power Systems program.  

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JobTrain is pleased to announce its partnership with Get Into Energy Career Pathways, a national pilot program to train low-income, young adults for skilled energy jobs, as part of a larger, eight-state initiative by the D.C.-based Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD). The initiative has been made possible by a $1.37 million grant to CEWD from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Using the Get Into Energy Career Pathways Model, the State Energy Workforce in California, Ohio, the Carolinas, Washington, Georgia, Florida, Indiana and Minnesota – will work with 5,000 low-income, young adults (age 16-26) to assess their interest and skill levels for potential employment in skilled technician positions. Students will have an opportunity to earn "stackable credentials" through the project that focus on the foundational skills necessary to be successful in a variety of positions in energy.  Following a pathways system of education, which might include boot camps, apprenticeships, certificate programs or an associate degree, roughly 500 will be placed into electric and natural gas utility jobs.  Others will be referred to jobs in construction and manufacturing.

"These eight pilot programs, made possible by the Gates Foundation grant, will provide the next step toward creating industry-recognized credentials that will allow energy consortia in other states to develop the necessary structure for building a stronger and better-prepared energy workforce," said CEWD President Mary Miller.

The grant will also result in the creation of tools and processes that can be used by utilities, education institutions and the workforce system in not only the pilot states but in any state that wishes to implement the Career Pathways Model. For example, it will result in a career coaching training program and handbook, curriculum for a National Career Readiness Certificate, a framework and common curriculum for a plant operators and technicians accelerated degree program, and a project metrics and web-based tool for input and tracking, among other tools.

Careers in Energy Week was created to increase the public's awareness about energy careers through a concerted nationwide effort.  To learn more about the Get Into Energy Career Pathways Program at JobTrain, please contact Nancy Peccorini at 650.330.6426.

About JobTrain

JobTrain transforms lives and communities in Silicon Valley.  Since 1965, we've helped more than 150,000 men and women in the Valley reclaim their lives from welfare, incarceration and unemployment by preparing them for successful careers in high-demand and emerging fields.  JobTrain, formerly OICW, transforms personal motivation into real skills that are the foundation self-sufficiency and self-esteem. In addition to "vocational" training," we understand that fundamental and sustainable transformations require a high school diploma, computer literacy, one-on-one counseling, as well as access to basics like housing, transportation and childcare – and we assist our clients with all of these needs.  In a rough economy, JobTrain places 75% of its graduates in quality jobs.  Each individual success story proves that – with time, commitment and resources – powerful transformations do happen.

SOURCE JobTrain