St. Paul –The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today launched the new Clean Economy Equitable Workforce initiative, a workforce development program focused on preparing workers who are Black, Indigenous or People of Color for good-paying construction-related jobs in the growing clean energy and energy efficiency fields.

The Clean Economy Equitable Workforce initiative will invest $3 million to connect community organizations that have deep networks within BIPOC and immigrant communities statewide with union construction apprenticeship programs in clean energy and efficiency businesses. The goals are to build pathways for BIPOC Minnesota workers into union construction trades in the growing clean economy sector and to develop a skilled workforce to support the state's transition to a green economy.

The request for proposals is open through 5:00 p.m. CST on March 4.

"Minnesota's energy sector transformation goals and its significant current and planned investments in green technologies and energy present a tremendous opportunity to invest in historically overlooked workers and create a more equitable employment future for BIPOC communities," said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. "Our new Clean Economy Equitable Workforce program will help more Minnesotans of color enter into this sector and take advantage of its lucrative, rewarding and diverse career opportunities."

"With clean energy jobs on the rise, this is the perfect opportunity for Minnesota to invest in career readiness and skills development for Black, Indigenous or People of Color looking to join this exciting field," said DEED Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development Marc Majors. "This new initiative is a unique opportunity for DEED, workforce development partners and union apprenticeship programs to work together and invest in a more sustainable, more diverse economy."

Minnesota's clean energy businesses added more than 1,900 workers in 2022 – a 3.4% increase over 2021 – now employing almost 60,000 Minnesotans, according to a recent analysis from Clean Energy Economy MN. Thousands of additional jobs in this sector may be added in the coming years as the state works toward achieving its commitment to 100% clean electricity by 2040. As an example of one clean energy sector's growth in Minnesota, DEED's Labor Market Information team analyzed wind electric power generation industry jobs and wages for the state's southwest region in December.

The Clean Economy Equitable Workforce program will help more people of color pursue these types of careers in Minnesota. According to U.S. Census data, between 69.5% and 88.3% of Minnesota workers in the utilities, construction and trade industries are male, and 93.2% to 95.3% are white. This includes fields like electric power generation, residential and non-residential building construction, utility systems construction and building equipment contractors.

"Skilled and well-trained construction workers are essential to build and deploy the solutions needed to achieve a clean energy future," said Gregg Mast, Executive Director of Clean Energy Economy Minnesota. "As we work to achieve our vision of 100,000 clean energy jobs in Minnesota by 2030, this exciting initiative will expand and diversify the clean energy workforce across our state."