Electrify America Invests $1.6 Million in National STEM and Workforce Development Programs to Help Build the EV Workforce of Tomorrow

March 15, 2023 by Electrify America

• Initiative supports five grassroots organizations across the U.S., bringing total funding of STEM and workforce development to more than $3 million since 2021

Reston, VA – Electrify America today announced a $1.6 million investment to support science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and workforce development programs and to help promote zero emission vehicle (ZEV), technology and infrastructure. Five organizations will receive funds to develop and launch educational and vocational training programs for K-12 and community college students and current and future workers across the country.

Recipients of the announced investment include:

•Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet

•Ecology Action

•EV Noire

•Sinclair Community College

•Valley Clean Air Now

The initiative is part of Electrify America's ongoing efforts to support electric vehicle (EV) education and awareness across the U.S., as well as support the critical need for a future EV workforce to continue to power the transition to electric transportation. These programs will address the need to educate students and the workforce about EVs and provide on-the-job vocational training.

Electrify America and the EV industry see a critical need to developing a workforce of future engineers, software developers, battery technicians, energy management specialists, construction managers and a wide variety of additional jobs that the industry will need as it continues to grow.

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'Investing in STEM education and workforce development is essential to ensure we have the talent necessary to drive the electric vehicle revolution,' said Gabriela Gugiu, corporate social responsibility senior specialist, Electrify America. 'The future of transportation is electric, and we want to ensure that our youth and workforce of both today and tomorrow have the education and training necessary to succeed in this rapidly growing industry.'

These national STEM and workforce development programs will build on Electrify America's previous $1.6 million dollar investment with four community-based organizations announced in 2021. Key learnings from that previous investment have shaped this year's award process, focusing on outcomes, impact and reach.

This new funding also builds on more than $9 million in investments since 2018 with numerous California-based community and diversity-focused organizations in low income, disadvantaged communities, and rural areas, as well as additional $1.4 million in 2022 alone for ongoing sponsorships nationally for events supporting EV education, access, EV ride and drives and additional educational marketing. Investment in community-based organizations across the U.S. remains a strong component of the company's broader commitment to educating all Americans on the benefits of driving electric.

The five organizations receiving funding from Electrify America will develop programs targeting students and workers in California and nationally. Additional information on the selected organizations and their campaigns includes:

•Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet: Acterra brings people together to provide environmental education and create local solutions for a healthier planet. Acterra is partnering with California-based nonprofits Ignited and Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT) to develop 'Transportation EVolved,' an outreach campaign to California schools and students that includes unique and middle and high school educational materials, a strong teacher community building and activation component, and outreach to first-time student vehicle buyers and their parents. https://www.acterra.org/

•Ecology Action: Ecology Action, a California-based environmental nonprofit, is partnering with Fused Learning, LLC, a California leader in STEM education, to transform awareness of and deliver STEM education to advance the long-term adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), technology, and infrastructure. 'Mission Z: ZEVs Engineered for Everyone' will offer STEM programming to 4th- through 12th-grade students in the counties of Sacramento, Fresno, Merced, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Kern, and parts of Los Angeles (Long Beach and Wilmington). https://ecoact.org/

•EVNoire: EVNoire's mission is to accelerate an equitable, cleaner, and greener e-mobility future for all. EVNoire will provide a ZEV Policy Workforce Development program for undergraduate, graduate, technical school, and continuing education directly to diverse and underrepresented population segments including HBCU, HSI, Native & Tribal, and Veteran-Serving Institution students. https://www.evnoire.com/

•Sinclair Community College: Sinclair Community College will create a ZEV training course to provide workforce development to incumbent workers at independently owned repair shops and new car dealerships so they can learn how to perform maintenance on ZEVs, collaborate with K-12 schools to offer career day visits, and host community ZEV informational events. https://www.sinclair.edu/academics/divisions/sme/aut/

•Valley Clean Air Now: Valley Clean Air Now (Valley CAN), is a 501(c)(3) public charity committed to quantifiably reducing air emissions in California's San Joaquin Valley, the region with the worst air quality in the United States. VCAN will provide Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE) maintenance training at California community colleges and vocational schools to boost job growth and local economies by creating a pathway to green technology careers. https://valleycan.org/