ComEd Job Training Programs Graduate Nearly 80 Area Residents

Community, corporate and workforce partners joined ComEd today for a graduation ceremony to celebrate 78 new graduates of two ComEd job training programs, the CONSTRUCT Infrastructure Academy and Craft Academy. These programs are designed to prepare local residents for entry-level trades roles to create a skilled and diverse pipeline of talent to support the clean energy transition in Illinois.

ComEd’s collaboration with local workforce and community agencies to offer career and skills training programs is an essential component of building a diverse and skilled talent pipeline needed for the future. A recent study finds that as many as 150,000 jobs are expected to be created in Illinois by 2050 to support the state’s clean energy transition.

“ComEd will need skilled workers to help us to continue building a grid of the future that meets our customers’ evolving energy needs,” said Gil Quiniones, CEO of ComEd. “Through our strong coalition of partners, we’re proud to offer workforce development programs that will help people within our region’s diverse communities gain roles in maintaining and modernizing northern Illinois’ power infrastructure.”

Both CONSTRUCT and Craft Academy programs increase the pool of qualified female and minority candidates for energy and construction jobs in Illinois by strengthening job readiness and life skills in addition to preparing for industry-required testing. Today’s graduates represent diverse backgrounds and come from across ComEd’s northern Illinois footprint; more than 90% of the graduates are people of color and 15 percent are women.

CONSTRUCT Infrastructure Academy:

Celebrating its 12^th year preparing local residents for careers in the skilled trades, this year’s 69 CONSTRUCT participants join the more than 800 diverse program graduates, 70 percent of whom have landed jobs after graduation.

During the 11-week program, participants earn industry certifications including a Class A CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) 10-hour safety training, prepare for the industry-required CAST (Construction and Skilled Trades) exam, and have the unique opportunity to shadow and learn from industry partners in construction and the utilities. Upon successful completion of the program, participants receive a stipend.