The US federal government has released one hundred ninety million dollars in State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grants to provide training and placement to bolster state energy sectors. Every state should have a comprehensive state energy sector strategy - an approach to work force development targeting the specific needs of the energy sector. Twenty-five million dollars of the money has been set aside to assist communities undergoing restructuring due to changes in the auto industry.

The money is available to state Workforce Investment Boards which can demonstrate that they have a successful partnership between the public system for workforce development and public and private entities for providing energy job training. This partnership should focus on the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors. The individual grants range between two million dollars and four million dollars.

While the state Workforce Investment Boards are the only applicants eligible, that doesn't mean that local groups can't benefit from this money. Applications from the state Workforce Investment Boards must include partnerships with:

• The State Workforce Agency
• One Stop Centers
• Local Workforce Investment Boards
• One or more representatives from businesses focused on renewable energy and energy efficiency
• State cabinet officials receiving funding from the Recovery act
• Labor organizations

The State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grants may also be used to improve investments in union training programs, helping to expand the services offered and the number of people able to participate in these programs. If your group or organization is eligible to partner with the state Workforce Investment Board in your state, your programs could benefit from the money being offered in these grants. Take some time to get in contact with a representative of the board and find out what options are available. While the deadline for application has passed - it was October of 2009 - the money could still be very useful for people in need of training and placement services.

If your organization exists to help people learn new skills and get jobs in the green energy sector, take some time to find out what help you could be getting. More and more people need to be trained for jobs in energy efficiency and green power production. These energies are expanding rapidly, and it's important for all the states to stay on top of them and have a definite plan for the future. That starts with good quality green training programs and placement services. Federal grants to your state could make a significant difference in what's being offered.

 

Boots on the Roof, a leading Renewable energy training institute, is enrolling students into its Alternative Energy Training classes. For more information on qualifications, Training Dates and Locations, click here.