Apply by Nov. 16: City Seeks Proposals to Expand Construction Training and Clean Energy Career Pathways
There’s still time for organizations to apply! The City’s Request for Proposals (RFP) for construction training and clean energy career pathways is open through November 16.
At the beginning of this month, the City of Seattle announced it will invest more than $3.1 million in programs that recruit, train, and place workers from communities impacted by economic, racial, and environmental inequities into well-paying construction and clean energy careers.
The investments, provided through a joint initiative by the City’s Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) and our office, have the potential to prepare upwards of 200 workers annually for construction apprenticeships and clean energy careers through pre-apprenticeship training, job readiness programs, and comprehensive wraparound supports.
Organizations interested in applying can submit a proposal through the City’s portal by November 16 at 11:55 PM.
Well-paying climate careers, investing in clean energy job training programs, and creating job opportunities that support local businesses will be priorities of Seattle’s upcoming Climate Action Plan. Our office is leading the development of the Climate Action Plan, which will serve as the City’s five-year plan to reduce pollution, prepare for the impacts of climate change, and build a healthier city for everyone to thrive.
“Meeting our climate goals will take skilled hands,” said Lylianna Allala, Director of the Office of Sustainability and Environment. “With this $3.1 million investment, we are training the electricians, building operators, and clean energy technicians who will power Seattle’s transition away from fossil fuels. This funding opens careers to the people and neighborhoods that have carried the heaviest burden of pollution, so everyone benefits from the clean energy economy.”
We’re partnering with community to help young people learn more about job opportunities and easy-to-access career pathways and job training programs. On Oct. 28, we hosted Powering Your Future, a free workshop at the Duwamish River Community Hub in South Park that introduced young people ages 13 to 26 to clean energy careers and training opportunities.
The workshop brought together organizations and community, including Sphere Solar Energy, Electric Era Technologies, and Emerald Cities Collaborative, previous recipients of the fund, and Villa Comunitaria, the Port of Seattle, Duwamish Valley Sustainability Association, and Seattle City Light, to help connect young people with information and opportunities.
Read the rest of the announcement by FAS below or on their blog!
Expanding access through Priority Hire
The funding will be awarded to local organizations through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) that’s open now through Nov. 16. Selected organizations must prioritize the placement of workers historically underserved in construction careers, a designation the City of Seattle calls Priority Hire.
The City, led by FAS, administers a Priority Hire program that’s designed to connect individuals residing in economically distressed ZIP codes, women, and/or Black, Indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC), with career opportunities on City-funded construction projects. The program also establishes apprenticeship utilization requirements and participation goals for women and people of color.
Since its creation in 2013, the Priority Hire program has generated more than $139 million in wages for Priority Hire workers—an amount the City estimates is more than double what would have been earned without the program. Through Priority Hire, workers have access to pathways into 20 building trades, including ironwork, carpentry, cement masonry, and plumbing.
“Seattle’s Priority Hire program has shown what’s possible when we intentionally connect workers who have historically faced barriers to skilled, family-wage jobs in the trades,” said Kiersten Grove, director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services. “This investment builds on that success by providing the training and wraparound support workers need to enter these careers, advance, and build greater economic security for themselves, their families, and ultimately Seattle’s communities.”
Investing in Seattle’s clean energy workforce
The investment also advances Seattle’s efforts to build an inclusive clean energy workforce as the City works to reduce climate pollution from its two largest sources: transportation and buildings. Our climate workforce strategy calls for expanding equitable pathways into the green economy and ensuring that BIPOC workers and women have access to living-wage careers as the City works to transition away from fossil fuels. FAS, which also oversees the City’s 4,000-vehicle fleet, has also set ambitious goals to achieve a net-zero greenhouse gas fleet emission by 2050.
The RFP will expand access to emerging and high-demand career pathways, including heat pump installation, electrical upgrades, solar installation, building controls, weatherization and building performance auditing.
Programs selected through the RFP will be required to provide supports designed to help workers not only enter the workforce but advance and remain in their careers. These may include mentorship, mental health support, certification and upskilling opportunities, career navigation, and assistance obtaining licenses, work gear, and transportation.
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