Meeting the Challenge to Ready Minority Candidates for Utility Careers

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy Corp. awards an $85,000 grant to the Energy Innovation Center Institute to train diverse utility workers in Pennsylvania. The grant aims to prepare candidates for apprenticeships in electric, natural gas, communication, and water utilities. FirstEnergy's support aligns with their commitment to diversity and inclusivity in the workforce, addressing the challenge of replacing aging utility workers with candidates from economically distressed communities. EICI's Infrastructure Academy focuses on recruiting and training minority candidates for successful utility careers, with a curriculum covering essential skills and safety training. The partnership between FirstEnergy and EICI aims to create a well-trained, diverse workforce reflective of the communities they serve.

Insights

Economist

The investment by FirstEnergy Corp. in the Energy Innovation Center Institute's training initiative represents a strategic response to the looming skills gap in the utility sector. As the industry grapples with an aging workforce, the financial commitment towards training and developing a diverse new generation of workers is a proactive measure to ensure continuity of service and operational efficiency. The utility industry is a critical component of the infrastructure that supports economic activity and any disruption due to labor shortages can have widespread implications.

From an economic standpoint, this initiative could stimulate local economies by providing job opportunities to economically distressed communities. By focusing on diversity, FirstEnergy is also addressing potential labor market imbalances and fostering an inclusive environment that can lead to a more engaged and productive workforce. The long-term benefits may include reduced turnover, improved company culture and potentially, an enhanced reputation that can attract further talent.

Market Research Analyst

This grant announcement could signal to investors and stakeholders FirstEnergy's commitment to corporate social responsibility and its long-term strategy for workforce development. A diverse and well-trained workforce is likely to enhance service quality and resilience against industry challenges. As such, this move may be perceived positively by the market, potentially impacting FirstEnergy's brand equity and customer loyalty.

Moreover, the collaboration with the Energy Innovation Center Institute and other utility partners indicates a trend towards industry-wide cooperation to tackle shared challenges. Investors often look favorably upon such strategic partnerships as they can lead to cost efficiencies and shared best practices. This initiative could also serve as a benchmark for other companies in the utility sector, possibly leading to a competitive advantage for FirstEnergy in terms of talent acquisition and innovation.

Workforce Development Specialist

The focus on rigorous screening and training for utility work underscores the intricate nature of these roles, which require a high degree of skill and safety awareness. The curriculum's inclusion of life skills and conflict resolution training alongside technical skills highlights a comprehensive approach to workforce readiness. This not only prepares candidates for the technical aspects of the job but also equips them with the soft skills necessary for long-term success in a team environment.

By investing in such training programs, FirstEnergy is potentially reducing future training costs and minimizing the risk of workplace incidents, which can be costly in terms of both finances and reputation. Additionally, by aligning with an institute that operates across Pennsylvania, FirstEnergy is casting a wider net for talent, which is particularly important in an industry facing geographic imbalances in labor supply and demand.

FirstEnergy grant will help train Pennsylvania's next generation of diverse utility workers 

GREENSBURG, Pa., Feb. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) has awarded an $85,000 grant to the Energy Innovation Center Institute (EICI) to assist with its efforts to recruit, train and prepare diverse candidates from economically distressed Pennsylvania communities for apprenticeships and similar programs offered by electric, natural gas, communication and water utilities throughout the state.

FirstEnergy's corporate grant will supplement EICI resources for computers, training equipment, training stipends and curriculum development to help diverse candidates to be ready to complete a utility apprenticeship program if selected. The grant aligns with FirstEnergy's core value of championing a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where different perspectives, experiences and backgrounds are welcomed.  

Utilities face the challenge of backfilling their rapidly aging workforces with employees representative of the demographics of their service areas, often struggling to recruit, vet and train diverse candidates who are ready for entry into apprenticeship programs. Pittsburgh-headquartered EICI helps address this challenge through its Infrastructure Academy (IA), an innovative critical infrastructure and utility-workforce recruiting and training initiative to position minority candidates for successful utility careers. Candidates are subject to rigorous screening and training for selection to highly competitive apprenticeship and training programs.

Scott Wyman, President of FirstEnergy's Pennsylvania Operations: "The need for skilled utility workers across our Pennsylvania service area continues as our most experienced employees retire. We are pleased to provide funding to help the Infrastructure Academy establish a pool of diverse candidates ready to enter apprenticeship and job-training programs offered by FirstEnergy and other utility companies. It is crucial to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves and takes pride in the work it does."

EICI works with multiple utilities to connect stranded talent in disadvantaged communities with skills-based jobs around them through IA. The curriculum includes:

• Strategies to navigate the highly competitive climbing programs necessary to be admitted into apprenticeships.
• Life skills needed for on-the-job success, including effective communication and conflict resolution.
• Training and testing on safety, knot tying and using the tools of the trade.

EICI operates training facilities in southwestern and eastern Pennsylvania and is expanding its reach throughout the state. Five regulated utility partners with service areas in seven states participate in IA, and the institute expects to add more companies in coming months. 

Rich DiClaudio, President and CEO of the EICI: "We are excited to have FirstEnergy join our growing group of utility and infrastructure employer partners. FirstEnergy's grant provides meaningful support to advance the programming of the Infrastructure Academy and solve the growing skills-based human capital problem in the industry. FirstEnergy and our other utility partners are committed to taking tangible steps to ensure a well-trained, effective, safe and diverse workforce reflective of the service areas in which they operate."

Approximately 3,700 of EICI's graduates are employed, including many in the utility and critical infrastructure industries in Pennsylvania and throughout the Appalachian region. Nearly 90% of its graduates are people of color who average 29 years old. About 86% of its graduates have received employment with a six-month retention rate of 74%.

Founded in 2016, EICI is an innovative and rapidly scaling 501c3 organization designed to provide skills-based workforce training for people from disadvantaged communities, veterans and others with barriers to workforce entry, as well as incumbent worker upskilling and training. The EICI advises companies, regulators and governing bodies on various aspects of the clean energy transition and offers effective community benefits plans and Justice40 offerings for many partner organizations doing business with federal and state governments.   

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving more than six million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Visit FirstEnergy online at firstenergycorp.com and follow FirstEnergy on X, formerly known as Twitter, @FirstEnergyCorp.

Editor's Note: Photos of FirstEnergy presenting a grant check to the Energy Innovation Center Institute and touring the facility are available for download on Flikr.

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What grant did FirstEnergy award to the Energy Innovation Center Institute?

FirstEnergy awarded an $85,000 grant to the Energy Innovation Center Institute.

What is the purpose of the grant given by FirstEnergy to EICI?

The grant aims to assist in recruiting, training, and preparing diverse candidates for apprenticeships in utility programs.

What core value does FirstEnergy's grant align with?

FirstEnergy's grant aligns with their core value of championing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.

What is the focus of EICI's Infrastructure Academy?

EICI's Infrastructure Academy focuses on recruiting and training minority candidates for successful utility careers.

How many graduates of EICI are employed in the utility and critical infrastructure industries?

Approximately 3,700 of EICI's graduates are employed in the utility and critical infrastructure industries.