First group of solar energy trainees begin classes under new state workforce program in Rockford
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — An initiative designed to help people find new careers in the clean energy industry has launched with its first cohort of trainees in the city.
A group of 10 trainees started class Monday at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 404 N. Avon St., to prepare for jobs in clean energy-related industries with a focus on learning solar installation. They’re learning the trade under the state’s Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, a component of the state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which created 13 hubs around the state for workforce training including one in Rockford.
“They’ll learn the basic applications of solar, all the components that make them up, they’ll learn how to design them, they’ll learn how to build them, they’ll learn how to maintain them,” said Senyo Ador, CEO of Sẽsẽnergi Eco Solutions Enterprise, which was leading Monday’s class. “We’re hoping that we can see folks enter the industry in the way of installers. They can be sales people. There’s even folks that have logistics companies and maintenance companies associated with this.”
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The jobs program is designed to help people who have faced obstacles to employment such as transportation and child care issues, reintegrating after incarceration or coming from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Aside from training in clean-energy fields such a as electric vehicle maintenance, solar and wind, there are career readiness aspects such as resume writing.
“When you think globally, this is really good for our environment — moving to clean energy. When you think about us locally, this is really good for our city and our people,” Mayor Tom McNamara said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony preceding the class. “This is an investment in our greatest asset, which is our people.”
The program is designed to help trainees find jobs and integrate into new careers at the end of their three months of training.
“We partner with the employers and they are incentivized to hire from the CEJA training programs,” said Marvin Hightower, pastor of Mt. Zion. “It’s a great opportunity for a person to come in and in 12 to 13 weeks you’re in a new career.”
Zion West Enterprise, a program based at the church that works to provide educational and career opportunities, is one of several local partners in the energy jobs program. Other partners are Workforce Connection, Awaken Foundation, Rock Valley College, Region 1 Planning Council and Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois.
It’s funded by a $3.3 million state grant won by the Workforce Connection and Region 1.
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“Our focus is really to make sure that we use clean energy and renewable energy as a tool to revitalize communities, being able to bridge the gap between all the fun and all the activity in the clean energy space and the underserved and under presented folks who represent the opportunity for the state to really get a return on investment,” Ador said.
Darrien Spates, 37, of Rockford is one of the first trainees in the program. He said he’s been working odds and ends jobs in construction and sees the potential for a new career that will build on some of the skills he already has. He also hopes he can pass on some of what he learns to his 16-year-old son to help lay the foundation for his future, too.
“I just think the future is heading that way and I think it will be an excellent opportunity for me to learn a career,” Spates said. “The future is heading toward clean energy and it will be a perfect example for my son.”
There will be future classes held under the program. Those interested in participating can visit zionwestent.org or call 815-218-0897.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
