By now, it’s clear that electric vehicles are the wave of the future. Carmakers are doubling down on the technology, and President Biden has set a goal for half of all new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030.
Of course, EV’s require a robust infrastructure, most notably charging stations that can support the EV transition. And the new technology requires skilled workers who are trained to install and maintain the equipment — a field that barely existed until just a few years ago.
ARC and Goodwill of North Georgia are now joining forces to help meet this demand and offer residents across the Atlanta region a fast lane toward a new, more lucrative career.
ARC has received a 5-year, $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor that will enable Goodwill to offer state-of-the-industry training for 250 people to become EV technicians. The grant will help expand Goodwill’s pilot Clean Tech Academy to locations across the Atlanta region, including Atlanta Technical College.
High Demand, Good Wages
Last week, Goodwill of North Georgia officially launched the Clean Tech Academy pilot program, which is being funded with help from Accenture. Adrian Johnson is one of 15 people enrolled in the program.
“I like fixing things with my hands, and I like technical things. I don’t want to be the old person afraid of technology or afraid of how things are changing,” he told WXIA-TV (Channel 11). “I want to adapt to whatever new phases come in technology-wise with cars, cell phones.”
The jobs are in high demand and pay well – an average of $30 an hour.
“The Clean Tech Infrastructure Accelerator demonstrates what our region can achieve when we aren’t afraid to dream big,” said ARC Executive Director & CEO Anna Roach. No matter how successful this program becomes, it must be seen as a beginning, not an end. The Atlanta region must continue to think outside the box to ensure that our workforce is able to meet employers’ ever-changing needs, and our residents receive the training they need to truly thrive.”
The first Clean Tech Academy courses funded with the federal grant are expected to start by early summer 2024.
What’s Next ATL, produced by the Atlanta Regional Commission, is a community resource that explores how metro Atlanta is growing and changing, and how the region is addressing its most pressing challenges.
