Clean Jobs Workforce Network (CEJA Workforce Hubs)

​
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.

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​
​
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.edu
Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois
Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois / The Workforce Connection
Jurea Crudup
Rockford
awaken789@gmail.com
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

Parkland College
Parkland College
Champaign
Alicia Beck
abeck@parkland.edu

217-353-2149

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
climateworks@lc.edu

618-468-4114

Macedonia Development Corporation
Macedonia Development Corporation NFP
East St. Louis
Jackie Daniel
jackied@mdcnfp.org ​
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Workforce Hubs Training Programs

​

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 Contact column or contact your local ET Navigator.​

Solar PV​​ Installer​​

​Grantee
Hub Area

Credentials Earned

Contact​
​548 Foundation Inc
​West/Southwest
  • ​​300​ Hours-NCCER Intro to Solar 1 & 2​, NABCEP

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

fnavarre@548foundation.org

Chicago Cook Workforce Parntership - South
​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

​​For Job Seekers

For Employers

pprado@chicookworks.org

​Chicago Cook Workforce Parnership - West/Southwest​
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"

​For Job Seekers

For Employers​

​​pprado@chicookworks.org
​​College of DuPage
​Aurora
  • ​432 hours-Renewable Energy Technology Certificate

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

mathenyc456@cod.edu

​Joliet Junior College​​
​Joliet
  • ​79 Hours-NABCEP, First Aid, CPR, OSHA10, ARC Flash Cert

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

lauren.kmetz@jjc.edu

​Parkland College
​Champaign
  • ​NABCEP Photovoltaic Associate​​

​For Job Seekers

For Employers


​Richland Community College
Decatur
  • ​​Illinois IBEW Renewable Energy Fund Certification; NABCEP Photovoltaic Associate​

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

tlthomas@richland.edu

​Safer Foundation
​​Chicago South
  • ​80 Hrs+OJT, PVIP Bd Cert

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

lisa.brackett@saferfoundation.org

​The Workforce Connection​
​Rockford
  • ​320 Hours-NABCEP, OSHA-10 Cert​​

​For Job Seekers

For Employers​

awaken789@gmail.com


EV Assembly Technician

​Grantee
Hub Area
Credentials Earned
​Contact
​Joliet Junior College
Joliet​
  • ​EV Assembly Tech Cert

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

lauren.kmetz@jjc.edu


EV Maintenance Technician
​Grantee
Hub Area
Credentials Earned
​Contact
​​Chicago Cook Workforce Parntership
​Chicago South
  • ​90 Hours (OAI)-3 cred hrs @ Prairie State College
  • 20 credit hours (Olive Harvey/Rivian)-Basic Cert

​​For Job Seekers

For Employers

pprado@chicookworks.org

​College of Lake County
​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

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

eechevarria1@clcillinois.edu​
​​Joliet Junior College
​Joliet
  • 48 Hours-ASE Light Duty Hybrid/Electric Vehicle Specialist Certification
  • 120 Hours-Medium Heavy Vehicle Assembly-Lion Electric​

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

lauren.kmetz@jjc.edu
​​Parkland College
​Champaign
  • ​​Automotive Technology AAS or Applied Science AAS

​​For Job Seekers

For Employers


​Richland Community College
Decatur​
  • ​EV/Hybrid Technician Certificate (following ASE Standards)​​

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

tlthomas@richland.edu
​The Workforce Connection
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​

​​For Job Seekers

For Employers

awaken789@gmail.com

EV Charging Installation
​Grantee
Hub Area
Credentials Earned
​Contact
​Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
Chicago South​
  • ​214 h​ours-Cert thru Gov State/Revere Consulting​

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

pprado@chicookworks.org

​Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
West/Southwest​
  • ​48 hours-Cert from Daley Colleges​

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

pprado@chicookworks.org

​Joliet Junior College
Joliet​
  • ​32 Hours-prepares for SAE credential testing-Revere ​Consulting

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

lauren.kmetz@jjc.edu

Energy Auditing

​Grantee
Hub Area
Credentials Earned
​Contact
​548 Foundation
West/Southwest​
  • ​NABCEP
  • NCCER​

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

​fnavarre@548foundation.org

​College of Lake County
Waukegan​
  • ​​RESNET, EPA Section 608 Certification and Exams HVAC Excellence​

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

rammon@clcillinois.edu​

​College of DuPage
​Aurora
  • ​Energy Audit and Analysis, Certificate​

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

mathenyc456@cod.edu

​Joliet Junior College
Joliet​
  • ​​9-54 Credit Hours-EPA Section 608 Safe Refrigerant Handling/Use; Hydrocarbons; Low GWP Refrigerant Safety​

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

lauren.kmetz@jjc.edu

​Richland Community College
Decatur​
  • ​BPI Building Science Principles Certificate
  • Building Analyst Technician Certificate (BA-T)
  • Building Analyst Professional Certificate (BA-P)​

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

tlthomas@richland.edu

Weatherization

​Grantee
Hub Area
Credentials Earned
​Contact
​Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
West/Southwest
  • ​280 ​hours-BPI – Micro certifications for Building Science Principals, Healthy Home Principals, Infiltration & Duct Leakage​

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

pprado@chicookworks.org
​Safer Foundation
​Chicago South​
  • ​​90Hrs-OSHA 10, EPA Lead Safe Renovation Repair and Painting​

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

lisa.brackett@saferfoundation.org

Building Inspection

​Grantee
​Hub Area
Credentials Earned
​Contact
College of Lake County​
Waukegan​
  • ​100 Hours-Illinois Home Inspector License​

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

rammon@clcillinois.edu​
​The Workforce Connection
Rockford​
  • ​111 Hours-NCCER Cert​

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

awaken789@gmail.com

HVAC

​Grantee
Hub Area
Credentials Earned
​Contact
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
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"

​For Job Seekers

For Employe​rs

pprado@chicookworks.org
​Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
West/Southwest​
  • ​280 hours-BPI – Micro certifications for Building Science Principals, Healthy Home Principals, Infiltration & Duct Leakage​

​For Job Seekers

Fo​r Employers

pprado@chicookworks.org
​College of Lake County
Waukegan​
  • ​416 hours-EPA Section 608 Certification & HVAC Excellence​

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

rammon@clcillinois.edu​​
​Joliet Junior College
Joliet​
  • ​​9-54 Credit Hours-EPA Section 608 Safe Refrigerant Handling/Use; Hydrocarbons; Low GWP Refrigerant Safety​

​For Job Seekers

For Employers

lauren.kmetz@jjc.edu
​Parkland College
Champaign​
  • ​​HVAC Technician Certificate (Parkland Credential), EPA Section 608 Certification​

​For Job Seekers

For Employers


​Richland Community College​
Decatur​​
  • ​EPA Section 608 Certification​

Fo​r Job Seekers

For Employers​​

tlthomas@richland.edu