As Massachusetts accelerates its climate goals, Greenfield Community College is aligning workforce development with climate action—creating meaningful career pathways in clean energy while addressing equity and employer needs in Franklin and Hampshire counties.

Much of GCC’s recent momentum can be traced back to key investments from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), including planning and capacity-building grants that helped the college design programs tailored to the region’s workforce demands.

A 2022 needs assessment revealed urgent concerns among HVAC employers: an aging workforce, a lack of qualified new technicians and growing pressure to support statewide decarbonization efforts. Armed with this feedback, GCC collaborated with industry experts to co-create a new HVAC training program that directly addresses those needs.

GCC’s HVAC training program emphasizes real-world experience and support for nontraditional learners. Students receive hands-on training and support to earn critical certifications such as OSHA-10, EPA 608 Universal, NORA Bronze and more. All students in the first HVAC cohort successfully graduated this fall!

Inspired by Massachusetts Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer’s 2023 report recommending a statewide Climate Service Corps, GCC moved quickly to act. With a MassCEC Capacity Building Grant awarded in February 2024, the college began designing its version of the program, envisioning it as a natural next step for students involved in clean energy training.

The Climate Service Corps will offer hands-on experience in weatherization and HVAC, career exploration, service-learning opportunities and site visits with regional employers. The program will recruit participants in collaboration with MassHire Franklin Hampshire and its YouthWorks program, blending career readiness with community service and sustainability education.

GCC is also deeply committed to equity. The college offers wraparound services like free on-campus meals, transportation coordination, durable skills training and warm referrals to local support organizations for housing, legal aid and food assistance. These services are essential for serving Environmental Justice communities, young adults, women and returning citizens—populations often excluded from traditional trades programs.