Denver Invests More Than $2 Million to Create Green Workforce, Providing Career Pathways in a Growing Clean Energy Industry

• Local residents will be first in line for jobs in an increasingly high-demand industry

Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency (CASR) awarded $2.1 million in contracts through its taxpayer-supported Climate Protection fund that will create and expand clean energy jobs.

The six awardees include Community College of Denver, Denver Public Schools, Energy Efficiency Business Coalition, GRID Alternatives, International Facilities Management Association and Mile High Youth Corps.

HR Technology News: ClickUp Revolutionizes Team Collaboration With All New Whiteboards and Revamped Docs for Modern Teams

“Our vision is to create career pathways and opportunities for people from under-resourced communities,” said Grace Rink, Denver’s chief climate officer. “We are working on a just transition to a climate-resilient future for Denver by training and developing a workforce that will be first in line for increasingly high-demand jobs in clean energy.”

CASR, in partnership with Denver Economic Development and Opportunity, issued funding to expand equitable access to jobs in the green economy through workforce development and employment opportunities for Denver residents. These entities will provide outreach, education, up-skilling, re-skilling, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships and on-the-job training. Awardees will also reduce or eliminate barriers to employment for people from under-resourced communities, people of color and workers from industries in transition.

HR Technology News: Lessons From the Company That Figured Out Remote Work on a Global Scale Before the Pandemic Hit

Individuals who participate in a green workforce development program will have access to quality green jobs with livable wages and benefits from employers. Services and products offered by employers also allow workers to build skills and competitiveness in the workforce.

“GRID Alternatives Colorado is excited to partner with Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency to grow a solar workforce that provides opportunities for all,” said Adrienne Dorsey, executive director for GRID Alternatives. “Nationwide, the growing solar industry is creating pathways out of poverty for tens of thousands of workers. We will expand on this work at the local level, creating quality jobs that are accessible and inclusive for Denver residents.”

A green workforce provides a variety of career pathways that directly contribute to moving our city and the built environment toward sustainability and resiliency. This includes current jobs that require new skills to meet green standards, jobs that are in higher demand because of green initiatives, and entirely new and evolving occupations.

HR Technology News: Remote and BambooHR Partner to Accelerate and Streamline Access to Global Talent