Man-Tra-Con Corporation has wrapped up its first cohort of its Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, graduating 11 Southern Illinois residents trained for entry-level careers in the solar energy industry.
The training was delivered in partnership with the Carbondale Branch NAACP, John A. Logan College, and Aur Beck, and is part of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which invests in building a skilled, diverse pipeline of workers for Illinois’ growing clean energy sector. Man-Tra-Con serves as one of the state’s CEJA Workforce Hubs, one of 14 regional hubs created under the program.
Participants completed hands-on training in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, covering system design, installation, and safety, while also earning industry credentials such as OSHA 10 and First Aid/CPR certification. Graduates are now prepared to pursue the NABCEP PV Associate exam and to enter the workforce as solar installers, site assessors, or sales representatives.
“My advice, don’t give up. It’s not going to be easy balancing everything, but the experience is worth it. In time it will open up opportunities for you to better yourself and your situation,” said Kurt Falkenburry, a graduate of the program’s first cohort.
“I’m incredibly proud of this cohort. They showed up every day ready to learn, supported each other along the way, and now they’re walking into the clean energy workforce with real skills and real credentials. That’s exactly what this program is meant to do, open doors for our own community members to thrive in the clean energy workforce, right here at home in Southern Illinois,” said Marcella Woodson, CEJA Manager at Man-Tra-Con.
“Southern Illinois has everything it needs to be a leader in the clean energy economy; we just need to make sure our workforce is ready for it,” said Greg Bouhl, CEJA Director. “Programs like this one prove that folks right here in our own communities can get the training and credentials to fill those jobs, without having to leave the region to find opportunity.”
Building on the success of this first cohort, Man-Tra-Con will launch two new training cohorts in September: a solar photovoltaic program in Carbondale and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) program in Eldorado.
The CEJA Workforce Hubs program is funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and prioritizes residents of communities that have historically faced economic and environmental barriers, as well as individuals with barriers to employment, connecting them with training, wraparound support services, and pathways into family-sustaining careers.
Since 1979, Man-Tra-Con Corporation has provided no-cost employment assistance, recruitment services, employee training programs, youth programs, and dislocated worker assistance to job seekers and businesses in Local Workforce Area 25, which includes Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Perry, and Williamson counties. Working with the Chief Local Elected Officials and the Southern Illinois Workforce Development Board, Man-Tra-Con partners with employers, educators, and community organizations to build a quality workforce across Southern Illinois.
Residents interested in future clean energy training cohorts are encouraged to contact Man-Tra-Con for more information or visit https://mantracon.org/ceja
