MISSOULA, Mont- The Missoula Clean Energy Workforce Coalition (CEWC) was awarded $50,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy by placing second in the American-Made Community Clean Energy Coalition Prize. The money will go towards the coalition funding the launch of Missoula's first pre-apprenticeship program focused on engaging women in the trades industry.
"It was very thrilling to get and exciting to be recognized on a national stage for our work in Missoula and recognize that the strategies we've developed to address these issues is sound, verified and recognized on a national scale," said Nicole Rush, the Deputy Director for Missoula Economic Partnership, and a founding member of CEWC.
Missoula's CEWC was founded in December 2022 and is comprised of four main partners: Climate Smart Missoula, Missoula County, Missoula Economic Partnership and Mountain Home Montana. The coalition has been working to provide more climate safe job opportunities to the Missoula community while making those positions in trades more accessible for low-income single moms and women of color.
According to CEWC, The U.S. Department of Energy announced the Missoula coalition as one of ten winners from across country in the Community Clean Energy Coalition Prize. During a two-day summit in Atlanta, Georgia, in early December, teams presented their progress on the plans they created in the first two phases of the prize. After the pitches, all of the teams were given an additional $25,000 for successfully completing all requirements in the third and final phase of the prize, and three teams, including Missoula’s Clean Energy Workforce Coalition, were awarded an additional prize. The money that the coalition received will help them launch the pre-apprentice program.
"It may go to support instructor fees, the cost to rent facilities is or we may use it for childcare and transportation stipends," said Rush, when asked where the money will go to in the program.
According to the coalition, the pre-apprenticeship-program will bridge the gap between existing trades curriculum and formal apprenticeship programs that will provide women a solid foundation in construction trades and clean energy careers. CEWC have already hosted clean-energy workshops that raise awareness to women in Missoula about climate safe career opportunities.
"Where we're at right now is we're working with Missoula College and Accelerate Montana to develop a curriculum plan and a plan for how the instruction would work and be delivered and what's the ideal schedule," said Rush when asked about the current state of developing the program.
According to Rush, the coalition will need to raise $200,000 in order to entirely fund the first year of pre-apprenticeship program. The program is planned to launch in late 2024.
Originally published on December 20th, 2023.
