SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) strongly believes closing the
“so-called ‘skills gap’” is one of the best ways the utility can bring
high-quality job opportunities to local communities and help them thrive.
One way PG&E is achieving this goal is through its nationally-recognized PowerPathway™
program. The program was spotlighted Friday morning as PG&E Corporation
Chairman, CEO and President Tony Earley welcomed Vice President Joe
Biden to the utility’s Oakport Service Center in Oakland to meet
students attending a PowerPathway training class. The Vice President,
Earley and IBEW Local 1245 Business Manager Tom Dalzell spoke with the
15 students, consisting solely of male and female veterans.
“We’re proud to show Vice President Biden and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf
the commitment PG&E has to training our nation’s veterans, and many
others, for successful careers in the utility industry. We appreciate
the partnership PG&E has had with the Obama Administration over the
years on workforce development. Together, we’re focused on getting
veterans and long-term unemployed Americans into careers—not just jobs.
PowerPathway is one of the ways PG&E is building the workforce that will
help power California’s future,” Earley said.
In PowerPathway’s six-year history, 600 people—including 300
veterans—have graduated with more than 80 percent having been hired by
PG&E or the utility industry.
Vice President Biden was in the second day of a two-day visit to the San
Francisco Bay Area to discuss the importance of workforce development
and investing in job training programs, like PowerPathway.
“For decades, the Vice President has been a tireless champion for our
nation’s veterans and a trailblazer in supporting programs to provide
education and workforce training opportunities to our brave veterans
returning home. I’m glad the Vice President is here to see PG&E’s work
actively recruiting veterans for their PowerPathway program so they can
train and develop the next generation of utility workers. It’s an honor
to have the Vice President in the East Bay to see this program in
action,” said Rep. Barbara Lee, who represents Oakland.
“Improving our economy fuels jobs that empower Americans who have been
hungering to get back to work,” said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. “I want
to thank Vice President Joe Biden and Congresswoman Barbara Lee for
their unwavering commitment to rebuilding our national economy. We’ve
felt the impact of their leadership in Oakland where we’ve seen a nearly
50% drop in our unemployment rate since 2010. I am confident that by
continuing to make smart investments in our workforce such as Oakland’s
recent passage of a minimum wage increase and by looking for ways to
expand innovative partnerships like PG&E’s PowerPathway program, we’ll
enjoy even more equitable growth.”
PowerPathway is just one of the ways PG&E has partnered with the Obama
Administration on workforce and economic development initiatives which
touch long-term unemployed Americans, small and diverse owners and
military veterans. It’s all part of the utility’s support of the White
House commitment to investing in a workforce that will keep
California—and America—at the forefront of the 21st century
economy.
PowerPathway’s success has resulted from strong partnerships and
alliances with the IBEW, community colleges, non-profit organizations
and workforce investment boards.
The students visited by Vice President Biden today are participating in
the first-ever “straight-to-contractor” job approach. PowerPathway, in
collaboration with the company’s gas construction department and CANUS
Corporation (a PG&E contractor), has developed a program that will
send graduates directly to work on a PG&E contract with CANUS to gain
critical work experience while awaiting or pursuing utility job
opportunities.
Following their six-week training session and on-the-job experience with
CANUS during the year, program graduates will receive necessary
certification, have experience on PG&E and other utility gas
infrastructure and be ready to competitively apply for positions with
PG&E or other utility companies.
This is the first PowerPathway program to offer participants a
nationally recognized certificate. NACE
International’s CIP Level One certificate is also internationally
recognized and used by companies throughout the United States.
In addition to CANUS Corporation, the utility is also working with Jewish
Vocational Services (to help develop soft skills such as resume
building and job interviewing) and Swords
to Plowshares (to manage each student’s case and provide supportive
services).
Besides PowerPathway, PG&E has been the leading partner with the Obama
Administration over the last two years on these initiatives aimed at
improving the workforce:
-
Long-Term Unemployment: PG&E made a commitment to address
challenges faced by the unemployed and veteran populations with the
creation of two
PowerPathway workforce development programs in California’s Fresno
region.
-
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act: PG&E supported the
signing of this act which enhances opportunities to provide
trainees the skills employers need.
-
Small Business Supplier Financing Initiative: PG&E was one of
the first companies to sign on for this
program to expedite payments for goods and services and promote
better access to financing—all with the intent of creating jobs.
-
Leading Forward: The White House recognized this program as a best
practice to help workers gain skills to advance into better paying
jobs.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E
Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas
and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco,
with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the
nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and
Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/
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Source: Pacific Gas and Electric Company