The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and the Georgia Energy and Industrial Construction Consortium (GEICC) have received $989,995 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Labor to bolster efforts to meet the workforce needs in the state’s energy industries.

The funding will be matched with a commitment of more than $4 million in resources from GEICC members and partners, as well as state funds.

Ultimately, the funding will produce graduates with the skills that will address a national shortage of skilled labor in the energy sector. The program’s aim will be to increase awareness of energy and industrial construction employment opportunities, enhance and expand existing energy training programs, and increase the number of underrepresented populations in skilled energy industry trades.

The TCSG and GEICC will use the funds to recruit and train energy workers in partnership with other state and industry entities in a consortium that includes nine state technical colleges, including Lanier Technical College and North Georgia Tech.

Lanier Tech currently offers the only two-year Electrical Utility degree and diploma programs in the state. These programs train students to fill the need for qualified workers in the positions of engineering technician, pre-engineering technician, substation maintenance technician, meter technician, and generator technician across the state of Georgia and the Southeast. These positions require more training and technical skill than other entry-level electrical utilities positions.

Dr. Mike Moye, president of Lanier Technical College said, “This grant is a result of a tremendous partnership between the Technical College System and the leading energy providers in the southeast. This partnership will continue to be critical in our efforts to meet the growing workforce development needs in the areas of energy production and distribution.”

Additional partners include the Georgia Department of Education, the state Workforce Investment Board and seven local workforce investment boards, the Georgia Department of Labor, the Atlanta/North Georgia Building and Construction Trades Council/AFL-CIO, the Center for Energy Workforce Development and the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia.

Debra Howell, workforce development manager for Georgia Power Company, chairs the GEICC. “This initiative, using a statewide approach, will deliver high-impact energy and industrial construction training,” said Howell. “At the same time, we’re promoting career awareness and career opportunities to meet future workforce needs, which are imperative to our energy industries.”

Energy sector areas targeted for expanded training programs include electric, oil, natural gas and gas pipeline, nuclear, energy generation and transmission, and energy-related construction.