A new initiative is underway in Franklin County aimed at fostering local careers in weatherization work while supporting Massachusetts’ clean energy goals.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center has awarded a total of $925,000 in grants to support a collaboration between Community Action Pioneer Valley and Greenfield Community College, designed to grow the local pool of trained weatherization technicians and crew leaders.

Under the plan, GCC has been granted $175,000 to deliver the instruction through its workforce development division. Community Action, a nonprofit that assists low-income residents, will receive $750,000 to offer an eight-week training program for weatherization technicians and a two-week course for crew chiefs. The first training cohort is expected to begin in June.

Participants must be 18 or older and meet income eligibility criteria set by Community Action. Through hands-on learning in outdoor settings such as storage trailers, tents and actual homes, students will learn to identify and seal air leaks, apply insulation using tools like insulation blowers and perform other weatherization tasks.

Samantha Wood, Director of Strategic Innovation in GCC’s Workforce Development program noted the practical classroom setup: “It’s a lot messier than a classroom.” Peter Wingate, Energy Director and Weatherization Specialist at Community Action Pioneer Valley, described the nature of the work as “real dirt under the fingernails” weatherization work—a hands-on craft that involves physically improving building performance.

Wingate noted that training local workers in weatherization and heat-pump installation could reduce service costs and expand access. “We see a link between clean energy and affordable energy … so our role is to make sure that as this is being done that people with lower incomes can afford the energy bill and have access to being part of this clean energy movement,” he said.

Local contractors have reported a shortage of trained weatherization workers to meet demand. Lisa Lapierre of Community Action emphasized the dual purpose of the initiative, explaining “Community Action is the region’s anti-poverty agency, so one of the best ways to help end poverty is employment … it’s a perfect meeting of two separate goals.”

Program leaders said the training could serve as a launchpad into a career path that includes roles like HVAC technician or crew supervision. Discussing the long-term possibilities of the program, Wingate speculated “Energy efficiency is not going to go away, sustainability is not going to go away … there is a possibility of a true career ladder that can start with this training program.”