ComEd “CONSTRUCT” and partners launch
largest training class to date; expand region’s job opportunities
in construction, solar power, and energy efficiency fields
ComEd has brought together 31 construction industry companies,
two local utilities and seven social service agencies to help
increase job opportunities for minorities in neighborhoods
throughout Chicago and Northern Illinois. This week, the CONSTRUCT
partners kicked off the 2017 class of 90 participants who will go
through the 9-week job training program that provides training and
information needed to compete for entry-level jobs in
construction-related fields.
New this year, the curriculum has been updated with courses
focused on the growing fields of solar power and energy efficiency.
The program also welcomes a new social service agency, SER Jobs for
Progress. The Safer Foundation, a not-for-profit agency which helps
people with criminal records secure and maintain jobs, joined the
program this year as a referral agency.
In addition, CONSTRUCT welcomes a high rise construction
sponsor, Constructing Bright Lives and its partners Heartland
Alliance, Magellan Development Group and James McHugh Construction
Company.
“With the recent passage of the Future Energy Jobs Act, we’ve
renewed our commitment to build the skills needed for the future in
developing the energy workforce of the future, right here in our
own neighborhoods,” said Anne Pramaggiore, president and CEO of
ComEd. “CONSTRUCT has evolved from offering an exclusively
construction-based curriculum, to offering training on innovative
technologies in solar and energy efficiency, some of the fastest
growing areas in the economy. This impactful program brings
utilities, labor, and community organizations together to build the
skills needed for the future in our local workforce.”
ComEd launched the CONSTRUCT program in 2013. It began with 10
companies and three social service agencies and now has grown to
include the three major utility companies in northern Illinois, 31
construction companies and seven social service agencies.
CONSTRUCT is intended to address the construction industry’s
overall need to increase the pool of qualified minority candidates
for construction jobs in Illinois. Through the program,
participants receive career guidance, life skills training, and
practical education about construction industry fields. There is
the opportunity to job shadow, and to attend career awareness fairs
to learn about a range of potential job opportunities in the
industry.
To date, more than 220 students have participated in the
CONSTRUCT program with 90 new participants this year, up 30% from
2016. The success and continued growth of this program is due in
great measure to the construction industry companies that are
looking to hire local, diverse candidates to join their
workforce.
“As our industry continues to evolve, partnerships like
CONSTRUCT will make a real difference in developing a pipeline of
talent and cultivating the next generation of our energy
workforce,” said Melvin D. Williams, president of Nicor Gas. “We
look forward to our continued participation in CONSTRUCT, and
working with our partners to help fuel the workforce of the
future.”
“CONSTRUCT produces skilled, diverse graduates ready to enter
the workforce. Peoples Gas is excited to join our peer utilities
and partners to expand the program and create new opportunities in
the communities we serve,” said Charles Matthews, president of
Peoples Gas.
CONSTRUCT is run in parallel at seven sites across the
Chicagoland area by ASPIRA of Illinois, Austin Peoples Action
Center, Chicago Urban League, National Latino Education Institute,
Quad County Urban League, SER Jobs for Progress, and YWCA of
Metropolitan Chicago and South Suburbs-Homewood. These agencies
will help identify and train the program participants using various
common eligibility and completion requirements, and are committed
to working with each participant to provide job counseling and
placement services.
Participating companies include:
ComEd, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas, Aldridge Electric, Inc., Burling
Builders, Inc., F.J. Paschen & S.N.Nielsen, Groundhog Utility
Construction, Inc., Henkels & McCoy, Inc., Intren, Lindblad
Construction Company of Joliet, Meade, MJ Electric, MZI Group, Nash
Brothers Construction Company, NPL Construction, Osmose Utilities
Services, PMI Energy Solutions, LLC, Primera Engineers, Trice
Construction Company, Livewire, The BarTech Group, David Mason
& Associates, d’Escoto, Inc., HBK Engineering, Kairos
Consulting, Milhouse Engineering & Construction, , The Roderick
Group, V3 Companies, as well as labor organizations - IBEW Locals
9, 15, 19, 134, 196 & Chicago Area Laborers - provide the
support.
For more information on CONSTRUCT, please visit
ComEd.com/CONSTRUCT.
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based
Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive
energy provider, with approximately 10 million customers. ComEd
provides service to approximately 3.9 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, Twitter and YouTube.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170227006151/en/
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