Free training for one of the fastest-growing trades in the country; 30 seats open in September for solar and HVAC
Man-Tra-Con Corporation brought solar training to Eldorado in April. On July 30, seven Southern Illinois residents finished the program, ready for entry-level careers in the solar industry. A second Eldorado program starts in September, this time in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.
The graduates completed 16 weeks of training through Man-Tra-Con’s Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, the first cohort launched under the initiative. The training was delivered in partnership with the US Vocational School LLC, D&D Electric, and Carbondale Branch NAACP, 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 techniques, and safety, while also earning industry credentials including OSHA 10 and First Aid/CPR certification. The curriculum paired technical instruction with professional development, including leadership training, resume building, employability skills, and career pathway planning. Graduates are now prepared to pursue the NABCEP PV Associate exam and to enter the workforce as solar installers, site assessors, or sales representatives.
“They didn’t just have to show up to class and pass exams. They balanced this program with the heavy, beautiful, and sometimes chaotic realities of adult life, and every single day they chose their future over their current comfort. That’s a rare kind of grit,” said Carmalita Cahill, CEJA Coordinator at Man-Tra-Con. “They didn’t have a path paved by previous graduates to follow. They cleared it themselves. Every student who comes through our doors after today will be walking a road that they built.”
“Their training went far beyond the technical side of the solar industry,” said April Roberts of US Vocational School LLC. “They leave here prepared to enter the workforce not as unskilled laborers, but as trained professionals who have demonstrated a willingness to learn, grow, and build a career. Those are the qualities employers are looking for.”
“I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me,” said Michael Riley, a graduate of the Eldorado cohort.
Building on the success of this cohort, Man-Tra-Con will launch two new training programs in September: a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) program in Eldorado and a solar photovoltaic program in Carbondale.
Both programs are offered at no cost to participants, and each cohort is limited to 15 seats. Enrolled students also have access to supportive services designed to remove the practical barriers that keep people from finishing training, including transportation assistance, tools and work gear, childcare, and stipends. Seats are filling quickly, and residents interested in applying are encouraged to contact Man-Tra-Con as soon as possible.
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.
To apply for the September solar or HVAC cohorts, or to learn more about no-cost clean energy training and supportive services, contact Man-Tra-Con at 618-998-0970, or visit https://mantracon.org/ceja
