Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program (Workforce Hubs)

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Preparing Illinois residents for clean energy careers

The Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program (also known as the CEJA Workforce Hubs) creates a statewide network of 14 training hub sites that prepare individuals for entry-level clean energy careers.

Each hub uses the Clean Jobs Curriculum Framework, ensuring consistent, high-quality learning opportunities across Illinois.

For organizations interested in becoming CEJA program providers or applying for funding, visit DCEO’s CEJA Updates & Program Status​ page.

What Workforce Hubs Provide

Each CEJA Workforce Hub offers comprehensive training and support services to help participants succeed:

  • No-cost, hands-on job training in clean energy fields
  • Employability skill development and career readiness
  • Work-based learning opportunities with local employers
  • Supportive services such as childcare and transportation assistance
  • Training stipends to reduce financial barriers

Career Pathways

Training through CEJA Workforce Hubs can lead to careers in:

  • Solar energy installation and maintenance
  • HVAC systems and energy efficiency
  • Electric vehicle repair and infrastructure
  • Wind power technology
  • Skilled trade apprenticeships and related fields

Program Goals

CEJA Workforce Hubs are designed to:

  • Prepare Illinois residents for careers in clean energy
  • Advance workforce equity by removing barriers to employment
  • Build a statewide pipeline that connects trained workers with clean energy employers​
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Find Your Illinois Clean Job Workforce Network Program (CEJA Workforce Hubs)​

To learn more about these programs, contact a Navigator near you​.
548 Foundation
548 Foundation
Chicago West/Southwest
Fredric Navarre
fnavarre@548foundation.org
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership - South
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership - South
Chicago South
Patti Prado
pprado@chicookworks.org

312-603-0200

Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership - West
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership - West
Chicago West/Southwest
Patti Prado
pprado@chicookworks.org

312-603-0200

College of DuPage
College of DuPage
Aurora
Callie Matheny
mathenyc456@cod.edu
College of Lake County
College of Lake County
Waukegan
Emily Echevarria
eechevarria1@clcillinois.e​du
Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois
Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois / The Workforce Connection
Emily Welsh
Rockford
ewelsh@TheWorkforceConnection.org
Joliet Junior College
Joliet Junior College
Joliet
Lauren Kmetz
lauren.kmetz@jjc.edu

815-280-6824

Safer Foundation
Safer Foundation
Chicago South
Lisa Brackett
lisa.brackett@saferfoundation.org

773-533-3093

Richland Community College
Richland Community College
Decatur
Tamika Thomas
tlthomas@richland.edu

217-875-7211 ext. 6221

Lewis and Clark Community College
Lewis and Clark Community College
Alton
Julie Jobryce
jjobryce@​lc.edu

618-468-4114

Macedonia Development Corporation
Macedonia Development Corporation, NFP
East St. Louis
Jackie Daniel
jackied@mdcnfp.org
618-515-5365
Kankakee Community College
​​Kankakee Community College
Kankakee​
Paul Carlson
Pcarlson@kcc.edu
815-802-8858
Danville Area Community College
Danville Area Community College
Danville
​Kerri Thurman
k.thurman@dacc.edu
217-443-8850
Black Business AllianceBlack Business Alliance
Peoria
​Denise Moore
dmoore@mbdcillinois.org​
309-966-3989
ManTraCon
​​ManTraCon
Marion​
​forthcoming



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Workforce Hubs Training Programs

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If you would like to learn more about these training programs and the credentials earned upon completing them, please refer to your local ET Navigator​.

If employers are interested in learning more about these training programs and hiring opportunities, please refer to the contact information in the Grantee column or contact your local ET Navigator.​

Solar PV​​ Installer​​

​Grantee
 Hub Area

Credentials Earned​
​548 Foundation Inc

For Job Seekers
For Employers
fnavarre@548foundation.org
 ​West/Southwest
  • ​​300​ Hours-NCCER Intro to Solar 1 & 2​, NABCEP
Chicago Cook Workforce Parntership - South

For Job Seekers
For Employers
pprado@chicookworks.org
 ​Chicago South
  • ​​80 h​ours-(Millenium)NABCEP Associate, MREA PV Solar Site Assessment OR 238 Hours (Lewis) NCCER, OSHA 10, Electronic Tech Assoc Solar Installer Cert, NABCEP PV Assoc
​Chicago Cook Workforce Parnership - West/Southwest​

For Job Seekers
For Employers
pprado@chicookworks.org
 West/Southwest
  • ​"10 Days (W​right Coll)-OSHA 10, NABCEP 
  • 238 Hours (IWE Lewis)-NCCER Core Curriculum Certification, OSHA 10, Electronic Technology Association Solar Installer Certificate (Level 1), NABCEP PV Associate Certification"
​​College of DuPage

For Job Seekers
For Employers
mathenyc456@cod.edu
 ​Aurora
  • ​432 hours-Renewable Energy Technology Certificate
​Joliet Junior College​​

For Job Seekers
For Employers
lauren.kmetz@jjc.edu
 ​Joliet
  • ​79 Hours-NABCEP, First Aid, CPR, OSHA10, ARC Flash Cert
​Kankakee Community College

For Job Seekers
For Employers
Pcarlson@kcc.edu
​Kankakee
  • ​NABCEP Associate, Red Cross First Aid and CPR, OSHA 10, Arc Flash Certification​
​Macedonia Development Corporation, NFP

For Job Seekers:
joys@mdcnfp.org

For Employers:
jackied@mdcnfp.org
 East Saint Louis​
  • ​Roots of Success Environmental Specialist
  • Roots of Success Environmental Literacy Curriculum Certificate of Completion
  • OSHA 10 Hour Outreach Training Program - General Industry
  • CPR/First Aid/AED
  • ​Save Our Sons Career Readiness Training Certificate of Completion​
​Richland Community College

For Job Seekers
For Employers
tlthomas@richland.edu
 Decatur
  • ​​Illinois IBEW Renewable Energy Fund Certification; NABCEP Photovoltaic Associate​
​Safer Foundation

For Job Seekers
For Employers
lisa.brackett@saferfoundation.org
 ​​Chicago South
  • ​80 Hrs+OJT, PVIP Bd Cert
​The Workforce Connection​

For Job Seekers
For Employers
ewelsh@TheWorkforceConnection.org
 ​Rockford
  • ​320 Hours-NABCEP, OSHA-10 Cert​​

EV Assembly Technician

​Grantee
 Hub Area
 Credentials Earned
​Joliet Junior College

For Job Seekers
For Employers
lauren.kmetz@jjc.edu
 Joliet​
  • ​EV Assembly Tech Cert
​​Kankakee Community College

For Job Seekers
For Employers
Pcarlson@kcc.edu​
​Kankakee
  • ​EV Assembly/Battery Technician Certificate​​

EV Maintenance Technician
​Grantee
 Hub Area
 Credentials Earned
​​Chicago Cook Workforce Parntership

For Job Seekers
For Employers
pprado@chicookworks.org
 ​Chicago South
  • ​90 Hours (OAI)-3 cred hrs @ Prairie State College
  • 20 credit hours (Olive Harvey/Rivian)-Basic Cert
​College of Lake County

For Job Seekers
For Employers
eechevarria1@clcillinois.edu
 ​Wauke​gan
  • ​​1168 hours-Program will prepare the student to take the ASE L3 hybrid and EV test provided the student meets the requirements of ASE.
    • ASE- xEV Electrical Safety Awareness Certification - Level 1 Standards 
    • ASE- xEV Technician Electrical Safety Certification - Level 2 Standards
    • ASE Entry Level Certification for Brakes
    • ASE Entry Level Certification for HVAC 
    • ASE Entry Level Certification for Suspension
    • ASE Entry Level Certification for Electrical
    • EPA 609 Certification
​​Joliet Junior College

For Job Seekers
For Employers
lauren.kmetz@jjc.edu
 ​Joliet
  • 48 Hours-ASE Light Duty Hybrid/Electric Vehicle Specialist Certification
  • 120 Hours-Medium Heavy Vehicle Assembly-Lion Electric​
​Richland Community College

For Job Seekers
For Employers
tlthomas@richland.edu
 Decatur​
  • ​EV/Hybrid Technician Certificate (following ASE Standards)​​
​Kankakee Community College

For Job Seekers
For Employers
Pcarlson@kcc.edu
​Kankakee
  • Hybrid/Electric Vehicle Technician​
​The Workforce Connection

For Job Seekers
For Employers
ewelsh@TheWorkforceConnection.org​
 Rockford​
  • ​66​ crd hrs-AAS
  • 51 Crd hrs-Auto Tech Cert
  • 24 crd hrs-Auto Maint & Light Repair Cert; ASE Cert if 3.0+GPA and 2Yr exp or degree​

EV Charging Installation
​Grantee
 Hub Area
 Credentials Earned
​Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

For Job Seekers
For Employers
pprado@chicookworks.org
 Chicago South​
  • ​214 h​ours-Cert thru Gov State/Revere Consulting​
​Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

For Job Seekers
For Employers
pprado@chicookworks.org
 West/Southwest​
  • ​48 hours-Cert from Daley Colleges​
​Joliet Junior College

For Job Seekers
For Employers
lauren.kmetz@jjc.edu
 Joliet​
  • ​32 Hours-prepares for SAE credential testing-Revere ​Consulting

Energy Auditing

​Grantee
 Hub Area
 Credentials Earned
​548 Foundation

For Job Seekers
For Employers
fnavarre@548foundation.org
 West/Southwest​
  • ​NABCEP
  • NCCER​
​College of Lake County

For Job Seekers
For Employers
rammon@clcillinois.edu​
 Waukegan​
  • ​​RESNET, EPA Section 608 Certification and Exams HVAC Excellence​
​College of DuPage

For Job Seekers
For Employers
mathenyc456@cod.edu
 ​Aurora
  • ​Energy Audit and Analysis, Certificate​
​Joliet Junior College

For Job Seekers
For Employers
lauren.kmetz@jjc.edu
 Joliet​
  • ​​9-54 Credit Hours-EPA Section 608 Safe Refrigerant Handling/Use; Hydrocarbons; Low GWP Refrigerant Safety​
​Kankakee Community College

For Job Seekers
For Employers
Pcarlson@kcc.edu
​Kankakee
  • EPA Section 608 Safe Refrigerant Handling/Use; Hydrocarbons; Low GWP Refrigerant Safety, ASHRAE, BPI and/or ASEP​
​Richland Community College

For Job Seekers
For Employers
tlthomas@richland.edu
 Decatur​
  • ​BPI Building Science Principles Certificate
  • Building Analyst Technician Certificate (BA-T)
  • Building Analyst Professional Certificate (BA-P)​

Weatherization

​Grantee
 Hub Area
 Credentials Earned
​Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

For Job Seekers
For Employers
pprado@chicookworks.org
 West/Southwest
  • ​280 ​hours-BPI – Micro certifications for Building Science Principals, Healthy Home Principals, Infiltration & Duct Leakage​
Macedonia Development Corporation, NFP

For Job Seekers:
joys@mdcnfp.org

For Employers:
jackied@mdcnfp.org
 East Saint Louis​
  • Roots of Success Environmental Specialist
  • Roots of Success Environmental Literacy Curriculum Certificate of Completion
  • OSHA 10 Hour Outreach Training Program - General Industry
  • CPR/First Aid/AED
  • Save Our Sons Career Readiness Training Certificate of Completion
  • Building Analyst Technician (BA-T)
  • Building Science Principles Certificate of Knowledge (BS-P)​
​Safer Foundation

For Job Seekers
For Employers
lisa.brackett@saferfoundation.org
 ​Chicago South​
  • ​​90Hrs-OSHA 10, EPA Lead Safe Renovation Repair and Painting​

Building Inspection

​Grantee
 ​Hub Area
 Credentials Earned
College of Lake County​

For Job Seekers
For Employers
rammon@clcillinois.edu​
 Waukegan​
  • ​100 Hours-Illinois Home Inspector License​
​The Workforce Connection

For Job Seekers
For Employers
awaken789@gmail.com
 Rockford​
  • ​111 Hours-NCCER Cert​

HVAC

​Grantee
 Hub Area
 Credentials Earned
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

For Job Seekers
For Employers
pprado@chicookworks.org
 Chicago South
  • 17 Cred Hrs(Commercial Basic Cert)-Kennedy King
  • 17 Cred Hrs(Heating Domestic Basic Certificate)-Kennedy King
  • 18 Cred Hrs(Heating Basic Certificate)-Kennedy King"
​Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

For Job Seekers
For Employers
pprado@chicookworks.org
 West/Southwest​
  • ​280 hours-BPI – Micro certifications for Building Science Principals, Healthy Home Principals, Infiltration & Duct Leakage​
​College of Lake County

For Job Seekers
For Employers
rammon@clcillinois.edu​
 Waukegan​
  • ​416 hours-EPA Section 608 Certification & HVAC Excellence​
​Joliet Junior College

For Job Seekers
For Employers
lauren.kmetz@jjc.edu
 Joliet​
  • ​​9-54 Credit Hours-EPA Section 608 Safe Refrigerant Handling/Use; Hydrocarbons; Low GWP Refrigerant Safety​
​Kankakee Community College

For Job Seekers
For Employers
Pcarlson@kcc.edu
​Kankakee
  • EPA Section 608 Safe Refrigerant Handling/Use; Hydrocarbons; Low GWP Refrigerant Safety, ASHRAE, BPI and/or ASEP​
​Richland Community College​

For Job Seekers
For Employers
tlthomas@richland.edu
 Decatur​​
  • ​EPA Section 608 Certification​

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