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Workforce Development
Introduction
GRID Alternatives is the nation’s largest 501c3 nonprofit solar installer and has been providing solar energy solutions to affordable housing owners and low-income families since 2004. GRID Alternatives was founded on a mission to bring the benefits of renewable energy to the low-income communities, families, and affordable housing tenants that traditionally had the least access to solar technology, but who stood to gain the most from the energy savings and career opportunities that solar provides. GRID Alternatives offers complete solar program administration and installation services including site assessment, design, permitting, financing, installation, and job training.
GRID Alternatives’ professional installation staff train and lead teams of volunteers and job trainees to provide hands-on installation experience and skills that are essential when pursuing installation careers in the solar industry. GRID functions as a “classroom on the roof” and seeks to connect participants with local solar companies and open pathways into long-term job opportunities.
The National Tribal Program is an extension of GRID Alternatives and has worked since 2010 to partner with Indigenous Nations across the United States to achieve their renewable energy goals. The Tribal Program works with tribes to identify, develop, finance and implement solar power projects that meet community needs. This includes education, hands-on-training, and career development for tribal members. Local and controlled renewable energy offers tribes the opportunity to take control of their energy resources, keep local dollars in the community, and reap the long-term environmental and economic benefits of solar power.
Installation Basic Training
One of GRID’s key training programs is Installation Basics Training (IBT), a competency-based certificate program designed to develop the skills that are most relevant to entry-level solar installation jobs and related construction employment fields. IBT focuses on individual certificates in industry-recognized skills, providing trainees with valuable hands-on training and access to potential employment opportunities.
Train the Trainer Training
If you’re community is planning on continuing developing solar project, our Train the Trainer program may be a good fit to not only develop a local solar installer workforce, but to prepare community leaders to lead the training.
Our Train the Trainer program does require we have two to three cohorts of IBT programming running in order to develop the identified trainers’ training skills.
Solar Futures
The Solar Futures program leverages GRID Alternatives’ hands-on solar installation model in order to inspire the next generation of solar leaders. The program provides both classroom and hands-on solar education to K-14 students.
The workforce development team has identified areas where cultural adaptations can be made and are available for consult on how you can implement this curriculum in your community.
Experiential Learning Opportunities
National Tribal Programs offers many engaging ways to those that are interested in pursuing a career in the renewable energy field. There are opportunities for those interested to visit install sites, demo installation days and culturally centered curriculum conversations.
Some of these continued learning opportunities include our leadership programs such as our Tribal Solar Innovators Fellowship and our Summer Associates program. The Summer Associates programs is a paid opportunity to explore different sectors of the tribal renewable energy field. The Tribal Innovator Fellowship is an opportunity for those already engaged in Tribal renewable energy to gain access to guidance, mentorship and connections in the industry.
Online Training
The National Tribal Program has delivered a number of trainings and programs online. We have trainings and curriculum on tribal renewable energy policy, grant writing, federal funding, project development, professional development, and more! We can also deliver a virtual Installation Basics Training Course to prepare community members to help install solar.
Career & Professional Development
We encourage continued learning in the field by facilitating opportunities for tribal members to continue their education beyond installation training and creating pathways for careers for tribal members.
We develop our workforce opportunities with an emphasis on transferrable skillsets and provide some wrap around supports such as resume building and professional socialization. We have built up our partnerships with Tribal Colleges and Universities as well as have funding opportunities available to students in the form of scholarships and internship.
Fellowships
Our Tribal Energy Innovators Fellowship offers a $25,000 award for federally-recognized tribal members who are entrepreneurs, or a member of a cooperative or social/business enterprise that supports renewable energy infrastructure and capacity building in tribal communities.
Applications Closed
Energy Associates
Our internships are open to any federally-recognized tribal members with an interest in our work. Internships are designed to meet the educational learning objectives of each intern. We also host a Tribal Energy Associates program as another experiential education opportunity.
Closed for 2024. Check back in 2025
Scholarships & Internships
Our scholarships & internships provide funding and experiential learning for individuals pursuing renewable energy majors, interests, and careers in both tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) and federally-recognized tribal members in mainstream institutions.