Clean Energy Training for (Pre-) Apprentices and Journey Workers

NYSERDA will accept proposals requesting up to $750,000 per project commensurate with the scale of training proposed. Projects that further include K-12 career awareness and outreach can access up to an additional $150,000 in NYSERDA funding for a maximum project total of up to $900,000. Cost share is not required but encouraged.

For Registered Apprenticeship Programs and journey worker training, a minimum of 50% of training participants must be from Disadvantaged Communities or Priority Populations. Projects that include Direct Entry Pre-apprenticeship Programs must ensure that at least 50% of training participants are from Disadvantaged Communities. Projects that exclusively train individuals from Disadvantaged Communities or Priority Populations will be given higher consideration.

Additionally, all projects must:

• Be carried out by experienced and qualified Training Providers.
• Explain the types of jobs/occupations and associated skills that trainees will be prepared for after training is completed.
• Include the delivery of technical training in one or more of the applicable technology areas and prepare workers for expansion or entry into clean energy jobs in New York.
• Provide workforce preparation activities (e.g., job readiness, coaching/mentoring, financial literacy) and wraparound services (e.g., care coordination, transportation, child support services, mental health counseling) and/or stipends to support individuals with barriers to employment.
• Continue training after NYSERDA funding has been exhausted.

For any K-12 career awareness and outreach element, at least 50% of participating schools or afterschool/summer programs must be located in a Disadvantaged Community or serve a majority of students from Disadvantaged Communities.

Entities that are eligible for funding under this Program, “Training Providers,” include:

• A bona fide labor organization
• A labor management committee or a training center affiliated with a bona fide labor organization
• An active New York State Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program or Direct Entry Pre-apprenticeship Program affiliated with a bona fide labor organization.

Eligible "Training Providers" should have a demonstrated history of training and placing individuals from Disadvantaged Communities or Priority Populations into training programs or jobs in the relevant technology area(s).

• Building electrification and enabling energy efficiency technologies and practices to support electrification (e.g., heat pumps, geothermal, thermal energy network systems, advanced building controls, high-performance envelope, and weatherization)
• Renewable energy generation, interconnection, transmission, distribution, and storage
• Electric vehicle charging station installation and repair.

• Curriculum development or modification
• Technical training delivery (online, classroom, on-site, etc.)
• Equipment purchased for hands-on training, virtual reality training, and mobile training labs
• Training of trainers
• Mentorship programs
• Development or expansion of pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs. (PON 4000 further provides incentives for pre-apprentices)
• K-12 career awareness and outreach programs and activities
• Marketing and outreach directed to recruiting individuals from Disadvantaged Communities and Priority Populations