Az4Solar joined with a diverse coalition of stakeholders - the Statewide Energy Sector Partnership (SESP) - to assist the State of Arizona on a $6 million Department of Labor competitive grant application to facilitate workforce development efforts around green energy jobs.

Arizona was awarded $6 Million by the Department of Labor to develop a statewide plan to establish strategies for integrating the workforce needs of targeted green energy industries in Arizona with education and training.

The grant is to help teach workers the skills required in emerging industries, including energy efficiency and renewable energy. Grant ends on January 28, 2013.

This grant will serve businesses, dislocated workers, underemployed and unemployed with education, training, and placement services that will lead to employment in the following targeted industries.

Industry Sectors

• Sector One - energy-efficient building, green construction, retrofit industries; energy efficiency assessment industry serving residential, commercial, or industrial sectors; and solar water heating
• Sector Two - the electric power industry, including renewable energy: Smart Grid, solar, and thermal power

Partnership

A comprehensive and representative SESP partnership was developed that includes the Business Community, Local Workforce Areas, and Education providers. The partnership was broken into three regions; Northern, Central and Southern. The three regions are lead by Local Workforce Investment Boards (LWIBs) and their one stop center systems. Partners meet monthly to discuss grant activity. See Workforce Events for the next meeting date and time.

The three regions include:

• Northern:

  • Area: Mohave County, La Paz County, Yavapai County, Coconino County, Navajo County, and Apache County.
  • Contact: Teri Drew, Regional Director for NACOG, tdrew@nacog.org
• Southern:

  • Area: Pima County, Yuma County, Santa Cruz and Cochise County.
  • Contact: Charles Casey, WIA Administrator, ccasey@csd.pima.gov
• Central:

  • Area: Maricopa County and the City of Phoenix.
  • Contact: Patrick Burkhart, Assistant Director Workforce Dev., burkhartp@mail.maricopa.gov

Click on the link below to view a copy of the SESP proposal and documents on file: Click to open: SESP Training Grant