Burlington County’s commitment to cost-saving renewable energy moved another step forward today, with Freeholder Director Joe Donnelly reporting that Burlington County College, using State grant dollars, has trained 183 individuals, consisting of both unemployed job seekers and those presently employed, in green energy technology.
“Our workforce development efforts are geared toward preparing our residents for new job opportunities in the ever-evolving workplace,” said Donnelly. “The college is to be commended for recognizing that sustainable energy is a rapidly developing, high-demand field, and for providing the resources to train many individuals. I applaud the College for securing the $385,000 in grant funds from the State Energy Sector Partnership Council that made this program a success.”
Sixty-four people who participated in the training program were already employed by Hutchinson Mechanical Services, a company that specializes in HVAC installation and repair in South Jersey. This training, Donnelly said, “will enable them to secure and advance their careers.”
He said that 119 of the students were unemployed, and of the 64 who responded to follow-up surveys, 19 report they are now employed. Donnelly said the County and the College will continue to work with the others to secure employment, and noted that the grant dollars are also providing for job placement assistance.
“Burlington County College is proud to partner with the County and its agencies in training workers for jobs that will be a vital part of our economic future,” said Burlington County College President David Hespe. “There’s no question that the demand for sustainable energy will continue to grow, and we must take advantage of this important trend.”
Among the students who responded to the college’s survey was Jim Keck of Hainesport. He was unemployed for nearly two years after a 28-year career in construction. He stated the training provided up-to-date information about energy efficiency building, and gave him the confidence he needed to regain employment as a construction supervisor this summer.
“It was one of the best things that could have happened to me,” Keck said. “Just taking that course and realizing everything upstairs was still strong and my mind was still working. It just got me going again.”
Beyond the hands-on training and instructional materials, participants also had the opportunity to earn the industry-recognized Building Performance Institute’s Residential Certification. BPI-certified professionals are more in demand, because many state-run efficiency and weatherization programs require BPI credentials.
