One of Nexamp’s solar projects in Illinois.
Earlier this year, Nexamp launched its second national headquarters in Chicago at an event with Governor JB Pritzker and Representative Danny K. Davis (D-IL). As part of that announcement, Nexamp committed to hiring an additional 50 team members and investing more than $2 billion in the state through existing projects and a robust development pipeline.
Now, Nexamp has been named a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) employer in Illinois by the U.S. Department of Labor. The designation was announced last week during National Apprenticeship Week. It comes as a result of the company’s extensive workforce development initiatives, including a successful STEM-based fellowship program with the City Colleges of Chicago and the Solar Sunrise program that offers participants one year of rotational experience at multiple Nexamp companies . units leading to a full-time career opportunity.
“Since we first announced our second headquarters location in Chicago last February, our focus has been on increasing employment opportunities for underrepresented communities in the Chicagoland region,” said Marion Jones, VP of workforce development and DEIJ engagement at Nexamp. “A successful energy transition requires a skilled and skilled workforce, and those opportunities must be accessible to all communities. By offering apprenticeships and working closely with educational institutions in the region, we are expanding the pool of clean energy workers so desperately needed today.”
The U.S. Department of Labor administers the Registered Apprenticeship Program to help ensure a strong and equitable post-pandemic economic recovery by connecting all Americans to good jobs in priority industry sectors, and among populations disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Registered apprenticeship programs enable employers to develop and train their future workforce, while providing career seekers with affordable pathways to secure, high-quality, high-paying jobs.
“In Illinois, we are building the workforce of the future through world-class education and internship opportunities,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I am grateful to our partners at Nexamp for their continued investments in Illinois’ success, including the opening of their second headquarters in Chicago and this new U.S. DOL apprenticeship program. This program will undoubtedly ensure that the next generation is well prepared to enter the skilled workforce, while creating more good-paying jobs and fair opportunities.”
News item from Nexamp