The work of making homes healthier and more efficient needs people to do it — installers, electricians, plumbers, solar technicians. Two programs in our coalition train local residents for exactly that work, and both are free.
We’re not the training provider. We’re telling you these exist because they’re open now, they’re nearby, and they’re good.
Cost: Free for income-qualified East Contra Costa residents.
Run by: A partnership including Open Opportunities, Inc. — a member of our coalition — with the Pittsburg Power Company, Pittsburg Adult Education Center, the Contra Costa Building and Construction Trades Council, and the Contra Costa Workforce Development Board.
Cost: Free.
Run by: GRID Alternatives, a member of our coalition and the largest nonprofit solar installer in the country.
Future Build is broader — construction trades generally, with clean energy as part of it. Longer commitment, more certificates, a direct route toward union apprenticeship.
GRID’s Installation Basics Training is shorter and solar-specific. Good if you know that’s the direction you want.
Both are free. Both are run by organizations we work with directly.
Not sure which fits? Email us at ECC-HealthyHomes@richmondcf.org and we’ll help you think it through.
When our upgrade program is running, the work of improving homes in Pittsburg and Antioch should go to people who live here. That means local residents need training and local contractors need skilled workers.
We’re working toward sponsored training places and paid work experience as part of that program. That isn’t in place yet, but the training programs above are running now, and it’s the same pathway we’re building on.