Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation highlights 2024 success

In 2023, the Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation (AAEF) began a statewide initiative focused on workforce development in the advanced energy field. As an emerging industry in Arkansas, there were hundreds of companies in the space, but little cohesiveness in trainings, credentials, licensure, advocacy, or career progression. Initial work included employer surveys, creation of apprenticeships, licensure and accreditation alignment, connecting employers and talent to training programs, exposing potential candidates to the industry, and development of statewide career pathways. The goal of this work is to convene all of the partners who have proven successes in other industries to create a contiguous advanced energy workforce pipeline from K12 through training, early job placements, and into long-term careers.

In the past year, we accomplished the following:

• 50 new apprentices;

• training cost reimbursement of more than $160,000 to Arkansas’ employers;

• grant fundraising of more $5 million to be implemented over the next 5 years;

• the first LEED green building certification apprenticeship in the country;

• the first Commercial Building/HVAC Controls and Energy Specialist Apprenticeships in the state;

• multiple sector-based employer workforce advisory committees;

• individual meetings with more than 50 employers;

• multiple industry surveys to show need and economic impact;

• state licensure and other alignments to create three standardized career progressions;

• career coaching for more than 200 individuals;

• outreach to thousands of Arkansans;

• workforce guidance on state energy program, and

• involvement in national organizations’ advanced energy workforce policy and planning.

In addition, April Ambrose was profiled for this success by PIA (Partnership for Inclusive Apprenticeship), Metroplan (central Arkansas planning organization), BPA (Building Performance Association), Arkansas Business, and others.

In working with national organizations, their feedback has been incredibly complimentary of AAEF’s efforts both due to the comparatively break-neck speed in which this work is happening in Arkansas, and for the thought-leadership driving it which is focused on balancing economic development, equity, and environmental benefit in a state that is ripe for this work. In fact our workforce development pipeline model is poised for reproduction in 10 other communities nationally.

Looking ahead: Skill Stream

Our newest program is Skill Stream, the Advanced Energy Workforce Project whose goal is to accelerate the growth of the emerging advanced energy industry by developing a career pipeline model that can be applied to any local community. By providing industry exposure, hands-on training, mentorship, support services, and career development opportunities, we seek to prepare participants for careers in renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage, advanced manufacturing, and electric vehicles. The progressive nature of this model is such that it develops an industry workforce river for candidates to flow contiguously from one phase to the next producing a steady stream of diverse, skilled candidates for local employers.  Funding will be used to develop both a youth and adult pipeline in Fort Smith and Central Arkansas that includes the following phases:

·       Ecosystem Mapping: Identification of employers, community partners, training institutions, workforce boards, etc.

·       Employer Engagement Forums: Identification of industry employers and their hiring, retention, and training needs.

·       Candidate Sourcing and Support: Utilizing specific community partners to engage diverse audiences and provide support services.

·       Industry Career Exposure: Development of hands-on events that expose youth and adults to industry careers and provide the spark needed to pursue them.

·       Introductory Trainings: Launching short training programs with education institutions that gauge affinity and provide credentials/certificates from which pre-engaged employers hire.

·       Hiring and Work-Based Learning: Full time job offers are made contingent on continued technical training through apprenticeships and Internships.

·       Ongoing Career Navigation: Continued career navigation, professional development, mentorship, and entrepreneurship resource support.