NEW YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
New Partnership Announced With Finishing Trades Institute Of New York To Support Clean Energy Apprenticeship And Pre-Apprenticeships
Awarded Project Will Help Develop a Skilled Workforce to Meet Projected Needs of Clean Energy Sectors While Increasing Access to Family-Sustaining Jobs

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today (Dec 5) announced a new partnership with the Finishing Trades Institute of New York (FTINY), the educational arm of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, to support clean energy apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships. The training contract was awarded through the State's $45 million Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship Clean Energy Training Initiative to help develop a diverse and inclusive pipeline of skilled talent to meet projected workforce needs of clean energy sectors while increasing access to family-sustaining jobs. According to the 2024 Clean Energy Industry Report, clean energy sector jobs more than doubled that of overall job growth statewide in 2023, with the building decarbonization and energy efficiency sector remaining the largest source of clean energy jobs, employing more than half of all clean energy workers in New York. Today's announcement advances an equitable transition to a clean energy workforce with at least 50% of trainees to come from disadvantaged communities across the state.

Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, NYSERDA said, "In the coming years, New York will need to have skilled workers in all sectors of our clean energy economy - from renewable energy generation to building electrification, supply chain manufacturing, clean transportation and beyond. The project awarded today reflects the strategic thinking of labor organizations as they work to meet the demand for workers needed through innovative and enhanced training for skilled workers focusing on energy efficiency and building technologies."

FTINY received more than $550,000 to develop ten training modules to enhance their existing glazier apprenticeship curriculum to emphasize energy efficient building envelope technologies. Nearly 1,000 pre-apprentices, apprentices, and journey workers will be trained, including at least 50% from disadvantaged communities , as defined by the New York Climate Justice Working Group, and priority populations.

On behalf of the Finishing Trades Institute of New York (FTINY) Business Manager and Secretary Treasurer of District Council 9 Joseph Azzopardi said, "We are deeply grateful to NYSERDA for their generous funding through the Apprenticeship Clean Energy Training Initiative. This award represents a pivotal step toward building a skilled unionized workforce to meet the growing demands of the clean energy sectors. Together, we're not only addressing the workforce needs of this critical sector but also building opportunities that strengthen our communities and ensure an inclusive energy transition."

FTINY, in partnership with Finishing Trades Institute of Western and Central New York (FTI of W&CNY), will implement new strategies to recruit and train apprentices and journey workers in the application of these building envelope technologies and provide training for several direct entry pre-apprenticeship programs across the state, including Opportunities Long Island , Multi-Craft Apprenticeship Preparation Program (MAPP) Rochester , and Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) .

FTINY and FTI of W&CNY will also develop a K-12 career awareness and outreach program to host activities such as green building information sessions, career days, hands-on demonstrations, and exhibits, with a goal of reaching 2,000 students and 200 teachers and guidance counselors across the state. Schools that will benefit from FTINY's outreach program include Bronx International High School, Bronx Design and Construction Academy, Queens Technical High School, Aviation Career and Technical Education High School in Long Island City, and McKinley High School in Buffalo.

Additionally, FTINY will partner with the Edward J. Mallow Initiative for Construction Skills , a successful pre-apprenticeship program affiliated with the New York City Building and Construction Trades Council to host tours and training modules at its training center in Long Island City.

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "Our partners in organized labor play an integral role in New York State's nation-leading clean energy expansion. Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs continue to address critical workforce needs and prepare workers for successful careers, while also enabling New Yorkers to provide for themselves and their families. I commend Governor Hochul and the labor community for embracing workforce development models that continue to be a win for workers, businesses, and the green economy."

Senate Energy Chair Kevin Parker said, "Creating full time jobs at a living wage with benefits is a major consideration as we continue to transition to a clean energy economy. Pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships are a good first step as we provide the opportunities required to meet the demands of tomorrow. I applaud NYSERDA and our partners in labor for advancing this effort."

Assembly Energy Chair Didi Barret said, "Training a diverse workforce is crucial to reaching New York State's ambitious climate goals. I have long advocated for increasing access and support for apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, particularly providing wrap-around services like transportation and childcare. I thank Governor Hochul and NYSERDA for their support in this effort and hope to see more programs like this expanded across the state."

Senate Labor Chair Jessica Ramos said, "Today's announcement is the exact kind of workforce development partnership we need to replicate to get to the union climate economy New York deserves. New Yorkers are eager to learn the skills for the jobs of the future, all while setting themselves up for careers with family-sustaining wages and dignified benefits. I applaud NYSERDA and the Finishing Trades Institute for charting this path."

Assembly Labor Chair Harry Bronson said, "The Apprenticeship Clean Energy Training Initiative is a critical partnership for helping New York reach our climate goals while bringing equity to our workforce through high-quality, clean energy apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships programs with direct path to middle-class union jobs. Thank you NYSERDA and the Finishing Trades Institute of New York (FTINY) for creating this opportunity, including a focus on early career outreach and development in our k-12 schools so students from diverse backgrounds learn the value of union jobs in the trades. Engaging regional partners like the Multi-Craft Apprenticeship Preparation Program (MAPP) to help recruit, train and prepare the workforce of the future will also ensure effectiveness, state-wide. This is how we build an economy that works for everyone."

New York State Building Trades President Gary LaBarbera said, "If New York is going to meet is standard-setting climate goals, we must invest in developing a highly skilled workforce of tradesmen and tradeswomen who will be ready to fill the thousands of union careers created by renewable energy projects. We applaud NYSERDA for acknowledging this need and investing in clean energy apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeships through this initiative that will not only create the workforce necessary to complete these critical developments, but also provide hard working and underserved New Yorkers and their families a unique and accessible opportunity to pursue the middle class. This partnership with FTINY represents yet another investment into establishing our green economy and pushing forward sustainable energy practices that will improve our state for generations to come."

New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento said, "Meeting the state's ambitious clean energy goals requires a highly skilled workforce, and today's announcement is an important step toward achieving that objective. Apprenticeship programs in renewable energy will create a pathway to the middle class by training workers for family-sustaining, union jobs and all the benefits that go with them."

NYSERDA's Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship Clean Energy Training Initiative provides competitive funding to expand the capacity of labor organizations to offer training as a pathway to clean energy careers with applications still being accepted up to $750,000 per project commensurate with the scale of training proposed. Projects that further include K-12 career awareness and outreach promoting clean energy jobs as part of a training initiative can access up to an additional $150,000 in NYSERDA funding. The total amount of funding available for a project that expands training capacity, builds new clean energy training, and includes a K-12 career awareness and outreach element is $900,000. Additional submission opportunities and deadlines can be found on NYSERDA's website .

Today's announcement builds on NYSERDA's commitment of more than $180 million for workforce development and training initiatives, which prioritize targeting and benefiting priority populations such as low-income, disabled and previously incarcerated individuals, veterans, disadvantaged communities and unemployed fossil fuel workers. This portfolio of talent pipeline programs includes Energy Efficiency & Clean Technology Training, Offshore Wind Training, and On-the-Job Training supporting the ramp-up of clean energy businesses and hiring of skilled talent.

Those interested in learning more about clean energy jobs are encouraged to visit NYSERDA's "Energizing Your Future" website which helps individuals determine which clean energy sector is appealing to them and provides an overview of career paths with a list of popular jobs in that sector.

Funding for this initiative is through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and the Clean Energy Fund.

New York State's Climate Agenda

New York State's climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.