The Baker-Polito administration is releasing $3.6 million in Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises Support Implementation and Planning Grants and Equity Workforce Training Grants to assist 25 organizations dedicated to increasing entry to profession and enterprise alternatives in climate-critical fields.
The awards, supplied via the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), will handle the necessity to develop Massachusetts’ clear energy workforce in addition to prioritize range, fairness and inclusion efforts.
“It is critical that we foster a vibrant, clean energy sector that will enable the Commonwealth to confront the many challenges associated with climate change and secure a clean energy future that will greatly benefit the state for many generations to come,” states Gov. Charlie Baker. “These grants will further support our ongoing efforts to strengthen the industry, which includes creating opportunities that provide a clear entry into a variety of clean energy fields to ensure a diverse and talented workforce is developed.”
“Equitable growth of the clean energy industry not only ensures the sector’s sustainability but also provides important benefits of generating a strong workforce within the sector, providing economic benefits within our communities and regions throughout the state,” says Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. “Our administration is proud to partner with these incredible organizations to expand access within clean energy as we work together to mitigate the impacts of climate change.”
Equity Workforce Training Grants have been awarded to 16 organizations for designing applications to organize members of environmental justice (EJ) communities and fossil gasoline staff for clear energy careers. Each $50,000 grant will cut back obstacles confronted by underserved people as grantees conduct analysis, develop partnerships and design the frameworks to create new job coaching pipelines to high-quality profession pathways.
Additionally, Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises Support Implementation and Planning Grants had been awarded to 9 Massachusetts community-based organizations to advance efforts to help over 199 Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE). MWBE assist grants will facilitate the exploration, growth and implementation of progressive coaching alternatives for Massachusetts-based MWBE corporations. The grants of as much as $1 million every will assist MWBE entry, creation and growth into fields vital to assembly net-zero targets. Funding for each applications was supplied by MassCEC’s Workforce Equity programming, which was created following the enactment of the 2021 Climate Roadmap Act.
“It is crucial that Massachusetts continues to develop a qualified, well-trained, and diverse workforce within the clean energy sector that is able to both expand the industry and directly contribute to its continued success,” provides Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Beth Card. “The Baker-Polito Administration actively seeks partnerships so that we can work together to achieve our shared clean energy and decarbonization goals, and these Equity Workforce Training and Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises Support Implementation and Planning Grants are an important contribution to that effort.”
The 9 MWBE assist organizations are receiving $2.8 million to develop statewide programming, in addition to location-specific assist in communities. Similarly, the 16 Equity Workforce Planning grant awards will assist statewide coaching and extra focused places all through the Commonwealth, together with particular EJ communities. The fairness workforce planning grantees will concentrate on growing holistic workforce applications that present technical coaching paired with placement alternatives and in depth assist providers.
“The Baker-Polito Administration is proud to announce these Equity Workforce Training and MWBE grants, which supports focused, targeted programming to the communities they serve,” feedback Jennifer Daloisio, MassCEC’s CEO. “These grants reflect MassCEC’s commitment to both growing the clean energy economy and increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sector. Importantly, these awardees have created exceptional plans and we can’t wait to see their programs thrive.”
Browning the Green Space (BGS) is receiving $508,500 to assist 50 MWBEs. BGS will create extra MWBEs by increasing the Accelerating Contractors of Color in Energy for Sustainable Success (ACCESS) program. ACCESS is an eight-week contractor boot camp for aspiring energy effectivity and renewable energy enterprise homeowners that gives curated consulting, teaching, connections, mentorship, and entry to capital.
Greentown Labs is gaining as much as $500,000 to assist 18 MWBEs. Greentown Labs will function the accelerator program, Advancing Climatetech and Clean Energy Leaders (ACCEL), to speed up high-growth, tech innovation-based MWBE startups in direction of funding, partnerships and prospects.
Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council (GNEMSDC) is receiving as much as $500,000 to assist 75 MWBEs. GNEMSDC will assist MWBEs change into conscious of alternatives to acquire contracts in local weather vital areas, construct their monetary and mental capital, and supply MWBE certifications, leveraging grants from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
GreenRoots Chelsea is getting $50,000 to discover coaching a variety of individuals of colour, staff within the fossil gasoline business, and youth from Chelsea and East Boston to enter the clear energy sector regionally in careers associated to solar energy and microgrids.
Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts (SBN) is growing the SBN Solar Business Accelerator with $50,000 to assist the creation of latest workforce applications to develop the solar business. SBN will concentrate on jobs past electrical engineers and electricians, akin to gross sales and advertising, data know-how, drone operation, group engagement ambassadors, and vegetation administration.
Read about extra organizations that obtained funding right here.
Image: Nuno Marques on Unsplash
