Central Illinois receiving $4.7M grant for clean energy pre-apprenticeship program

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Pritzker administration hopes to get more women and people of color working in the clean energy industry. Central Illinois is receiving a $4.7 million grant to launch a pre-apprenticeship program for several hundred people to join the clean energy workforce this year.

Pritzker told reporters in Chicago Tuesday that Illinois cannot meet climate goals or his commitment to people across the state until there is a pathway to a quality meaningful job for every person.

"That pathway starts with quality K-12 STEM education and it extends through career and technical education and apprenticeship programs so learners of all levels can take part," Pritzker said.

The Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program will prioritize underrepresented communities and Illinoisans who historically faced economic and environmental barriers. Pritzker said this internship program is critical to eliminating barriers to training and education for the growing clean energy industry.

Hire360 will recruit, prescreen and provide free training for future clean energy workers in the central Illinois region.

"Working with trade unions, Hire360 has already helped over 420 individuals in the Chicagoland area, who are diverse and female, get into every single trade union program in the area," said Hire260 Executive Director Jay Rowell. "The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act expands our model to all 102 counties and allows us to greatly scale up the number of workers we can prepare for clean energy careers."

Leaders said the new program will allow people to secure good-paying jobs in construction, installation and clean energy maintenance.

The governor also hopes this opportunity can move Illinois another step closer to 100% clean energy by 2050. Roughly 54% of the state's power comes from nuclear reactors.

"We went from 7.5% renewable energy in Illinois to 15% in just a little over two years," Pritzker explained. "Now, I believe we're going to add another 5% to 10% in the next year or two."

The Pritzker administration is providing approximately $13.6 million in grant funding to start the pre-apprenticeship programs in northern, central and southern Illinois. The 548 Foundation will also serve as a CEJA workforce hub for the southwest and west side of Chicago.