Avivo chosen as CenterPoint Energy partner to help develop a diverse, skilled workforce

CenterPoint Energy, Minnesota’s largest natural gas utility, selected Avivo as one of eight nonprofit organizations and technical colleges to help expand training opportunities for a diverse workforce to support energy efficiency in the state. In partnership with the Regional Apprenticeship Training Center in north Minneapolis, Avivo will offer career-track training programs in HVAC-R Technician and Facilities Maintenance Engineering. Trainee recruitment will focus on reaching Twin Cities’ residents who are under-served, low-income, and identify as black, Indigenous and people of color.

With approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, CenterPoint Energy’s workforce development initiative has two goals: 1) to increase the number of skilled trades professionals with energy efficiency expertise, and 2) to increase the diversity of this skilled trades workforce with a focus on historically underrepresented groups.

With its Conservation Improvement Program (CIP), CenterPoint Energy in Minnesota has long been recognized as having among the foremost natural gas energy efficiency programs in the country. In addition to conserving energy, lowering customers’ energy costs and reducing carbon emissions, energy efficiency programs support job creation and local economic development.

“Strategic partnerships like this are key in developing a diverse and skilled workforce in the growing, energy efficiency and energy-related fields,” shares Kelly Matter, President & CEO of Avivo. “In addition to training professional talent, Avivo will provide employment services and placement support to help them enter successfully into these high-demand careers in a growing industry.”

“Strategic partnerships like this are key in developing a diverse and skilled workforce in the growing, energy efficiency and energy-related fields,” shares Kelly Matter, President & CEO of Avivo. “In addition to training professional talent, Avivo will provide employment services and placement support to help them enter successfully into these high-demand careers in a growing industry.”

Energy efficiency is involved in a wide range of family-supporting career opportunities, including construction; energy auditing; weatherization/air sealing/insulation; and the installation and maintenance of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC-R) equipment.

Through a $2.5 million competitive grant program, CenterPoint Energy is teaming up with the following technical colleges and community nonprofit organizations in addition to Avivo: Center for Energy and Environment (CEE), Dunwoody College of Technology, Hennepin Technical College, Minneapolis Regional Chamber Development Foundation, ServeMinnesota, StudiOne-Eighty, and Summit Academy OIC.

Learn more about Avivo’s training programs, offered through Avivo Institute of Career & Technical Education.