The city of Charlotte has launched the Renewable Energy and Efficiency Workforce training program to develop a workforce trained for a green economy.

The RENEW training program is a partnership between the city and the Urban League of the Central Carolinas. Program participants will become certified in heating, ventilation and air conditioning for entry-level technician positions for career opportunities in commercial and residential energy. Training will include renewable energy and energy efficiency. Trane Technologies as well as other companies in the industry will provide program graduates with career opportunities. A $15 an hour training stipend will be provided to program participants during the 13-week course organized by the Urban League of Central Carolinas. Participants will have access to virtual and hands-on training.   

“The RENEW Training Program is a fantastic city-community partnership,” Assistant City Manager Tracy Dodson said in a statement.  “By working with the Urban League of Central Carolinas and Trane Technologies, the City of Charlotte will use our CARES Act funding to provide life-changing career opportunities for the residents in our community most affected by COVID-19. Each graduating cohort is helping us develop a qualified workforce well suited for an emerging, green economy.”

The city will invest $500,000 over a year into the program. Additional funding will be provided from the CARES Act. They intend to recruit Charlotte residents who have been displaced or otherwise negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirty students will be trained and placed into the program’s first cohort in September.
The program will also include a Corporate Advisory Council, consisting of local businesses in the energy field.

“The Urban League of Central Carolinas is excited to partner with the RENEW program,” Urban League of Central Carolinas President and CEO Teddy McDaniel said. “We provide state-of-the art training in HVAC and sustainable technologies to prepare Charlotte residents for a career in this high demand industry. The enhanced capacity of the RENEW program will allow us to provide successful career paths for our clients who are in most need of these services during this public health crisis.”

Said Trane Technologies President and COO Dave Regnery: “The HVAC industry is an excellent destination for technical careers that contribute to a greener economy and a more sustainable world. We have had a long partnership with the Urban League of the Central Carolinas, Inc. on training programs for technicians, and look forward to working with the Urban League and the City of Charlotte to expand career readiness and job placements through the RENEW program.”

Charlotte was one of 25 cities to win the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge in 2018. The challenge is designed to stimulate green economies across U.S. cities.

“Fighting the climate crisis requires that we scale-up our clean energy future and invest heavily in our workforce. There’s never been a better time to bolster opportunities and pathways for people to participate in the growing green economy,” said Christina Angelides, director of the American Cities Climate Challenge. “Charlotte’s RENEW training program is exactly the type of smart, inclusive approach needed to get the economy humming again—it will no doubt help build a brighter and stronger city. This is another example of the innovative efforts the American Cities Climate Challenge is helping to spearhead in cities across the U.S.”

On the Net:
https://charlotteopenforbusiness.com

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