ComEd Job Training Programs Graduate Nearly 80 Area Residents
11 April 2024 - 1:29AM
Business Wire
ComEd job training programs - CONSTRUCT and
Craft Academy - prepare diverse, local job seekers for careers in
construction and the utilities
Community, corporate and workforce partners joined ComEd today
for a graduation ceremony to celebrate 78 new graduates of two
ComEd job training programs, the CONSTRUCT Infrastructure Academy
and Craft Academy. These programs are designed to prepare local
residents for entry-level trades roles to create a skilled and
diverse pipeline of talent to support the clean energy transition
in Illinois.
ComEd’s collaboration with local workforce and community
agencies to offer career and skills training programs is an
essential component of building a diverse and skilled talent
pipeline needed for the future. A recent study finds that as many
as 150,000 jobs are expected to be created in Illinois by 2050 to
support the state’s clean energy transition.
“ComEd will need skilled workers to help us to continue building
a grid of the future that meets our customers’ evolving energy
needs,” said Gil Quiniones, CEO of ComEd. “Through our
strong coalition of partners, we’re proud to offer workforce
development programs that will help people within our region’s
diverse communities gain roles in maintaining and modernizing
northern Illinois’ power infrastructure.”
Both CONSTRUCT and Craft Academy programs increase the pool of
qualified female and minority candidates for energy and
construction jobs in Illinois by strengthening job readiness and
life skills in addition to preparing for industry-required testing.
Today’s graduates represent diverse backgrounds and come from
across ComEd’s northern Illinois footprint; more than 90% of the
graduates are people of color and 15 percent are women.
CONSTRUCT Infrastructure Academy:
Celebrating its 12th year preparing local residents for careers
in the skilled trades, this year’s 69 CONSTRUCT participants join
the more than 800 diverse program graduates, 70 percent of whom
have landed jobs after graduation.
During the 11-week program, participants earn industry
certifications including a Class A CDL (Commercial Driver’s
License) and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
10-hour safety training, prepare for the industry-required CAST
(Construction and Skilled Trades) exam, and have the unique
opportunity to shadow and learn from industry partners in
construction and the utilities. Upon successful completion of the
program, participants receive a stipend.
“I’ve been a carpenter for four years but joining CONSTRUCT has
made me realize the great variety of career opportunities that lie
in the utilities, and how these are only bound to grow due to the
clean energy transition,” said Surezz Hunter, 2024 CONSTRUCT
graduate. “The kind of support we received throughout the
program to ensure we’re ready to land stable jobs is really
special. I look forward to expanding my skills in the trades and
making my family proud.”
Through a coalition of nearly 40 educational institutions,
sponsoring companies, organized labor, and workforce community
agencies, ComEd recruits, trains and helps match local residents to
family-sustaining roles in construction and the trades.
“Central States SER, Jobs for Progress Inc. is proud to work
with ComEd in removing barriers and providing the tools and support
needed for individuals to enter roles in the growing energy field,”
said Hugo Avila, co-director of Central States SER/SERCO,
Inc.. “The opportunity for community members to build their
skills for careers that offer economic mobility is life-changing,
and we couldn’t be happier to be playing a part in supporting
CONSTRUCT.”
"We are proud to work together with ComEd in expanding career
opportunities for more community members while building a stronger,
more diverse workforce for the construction field,” said
Stephanie Hickman, President and CEO of Trice Construction
Company. “Through our partnership with ComEd and CONSTRUCT, we
have had the privilege of welcoming talented individuals into our
team, each bringing their unique skills, perspectives, and
experiences to the table that will have a lasting impact on our
communities."
Craft Academy:
One of ComEd’s newest training programs, the Craft Academy,
expanded this year from three weeks to five weeks to better prepare
entry-level candidates for roles in the utilities and construction
fields that require pole climbing and other physical attributes.
Through class instruction and physical aptitude training, this
year’s 9 participants were prepared to enter apprenticeship
programs or entry-level field positions, including Construction
Worker and Overhead Helper.
Since 2022, ComEd has hired more than 400 entry-level workers
through the continuous expansion of training opportunities such as
CONSTRUCT and Craft Academy. By creating new industry pathways via
introductory career training, focusing on certifications and
industry knowledge, ComEd is preparing to meet future talent needs.
Last year alone these programs, combined with STEM offerings,
helped reach 3,500 residents. To learn more on how to enroll in
ComEd job training programs, please visit
www.ComEd.com/CleanEnergyJobs, or contact
WorkforceDevelopment@ComEd.com.
ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ:
EXC), a Fortune 250 energy company with approximately 10 million
electricity and natural gas customers – the largest number of
customers in the U.S. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million
customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's
population. For more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with
the company on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.
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