ICAST Receives Funds to Support Workforce Development and Energy Independence
ICAST recently received $25,000 from Wells Fargo to support our Colorado workforce development program, the Denver Clean Energy Construction Career Accelerator (DCECCA). We are partnered with Energy Efficiency Business Coalition (EEBC) and Julius Education to help disadvantaged individuals access entry-level green jobs and to provide high-efficiency heat pump upskilling for current HVAC contractors. For the entry-level track, priority populations (e.g., low-income and disabled) will be offered free green construction training developed through the nationally recognized Energy$mart Academy, prepared for Building Performance Institute (BPI) certifications, and ultimately sourced into EEBC’s network of businesses for well-paying, entry-level green jobs. In parallel, the team will work with EEBC’s existing network of contractors to provide paid on-the-job upskilling on cold-climate air-source heat pumps (ccASHP). For this track, we prioritize Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises and those impacted by COVID-19. Wells Fargo funding will be utilized to reach at least 2,000 disadvantaged individuals for the entry-level track and subsidize the cost of BPI certifications for at least 50 of these individuals.
We received $14,500 to support our project serving federally recognized Tribes in New Mexico. The funding will be utilized to support a feasibility study, the implementation of which will lead to creating economic opportunities for Tribal businesses and residents, forming a Tribe-owned Utility, reducing GHG emissions and utility costs, and ultimately helping Tribes achieve energy independence.
We are grateful to Wells Fargo for their continued support of our projects.