RENEW Snapshot
The Renewable Energy and Efficiency Workforce (RENEW) Training Program is a partnership between the City of Charlotte, SchermCo, Goodwill, and the Urban League of the Carolinas. Starting in September of 2020, participants received heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry-certified credentials required for entry-level technician positions, job placement assistance, work-based learning (WBL), and career development opportunities.
SchermCo served as the primary point of contact and strategic project manager throughout the RENEW initiative. The following information serves as a snapshot of key processes and outcomes learned.
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Context + Goals
- The goal of the RENEW program was to place a total of 60 Charlotte-based residents that were displaced or disadvantaged as a result of COVID-19 into entry-level HVAC and related technical positions.
- The City of Charlotte partnered with Urban League of Central Carolinas & Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont to provide a 13-week training course per cohort that culminated in students taking their Universal Certification exams.
- SchermCo provided key project management support, including; participant outcomes tracking, career event coordination, and management of the Corporate Advisory Council (CAC) – a 150+ corporate council of industry representatives.
- Both Urban League (UL) and Goodwill (GW) were responsible for the student recruitment, student relationships, training, and job placements of their graduates.
- In coordination with SchermCo, both UL & GW hosted hiring events such as Mentor Mondays, Lunch & Learns, Career Fairs, and other opportunities to ensure interaction between students and corporate partners.
- Students received a $15/hour training stipend throughout the cohort as well as training materials, equipment, and personal supports (transportation, childcare, etc.)
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RENEW Project Facilitation
SchermCo served as the main point of contact between the UL, GW, and the City of Charlotte and organized a Corporate Advisory Council (CAC) that consists of 150+ corporate & non-profit partners to connect employers directly with RENEW participants. SchermCo hosted CAC Advisory meetings once a quarter and monthly/weekly check-ins with the City of Charlotte, UL, and GW to support outcomes tracking, coordinate CAC involvement, and troubleshoot any employment-related barriers.
Demographics: Cohorts 1-5
| Female | 45 | 27.00% |
| Male | 119 | 72.50% |
Race/Ethnicity
| African American | 118 | 79.72% |
| White | 19 | 12.83% |
| Hispanic | 3 | 2.02% |
| Asian | 3 | 2.02 |
| Other | 5 | 3.37% |
Age
| 18-21 | 6 | 9.10% |
| 22-30 | 26 | 39.40% |
| 31-40 | 26 | 39.40% |
| 41-50 | 4 | 6.10% |
| 51-60 | 3 | 4.50% |
| 61-70 | 1 | 1.50% |
Outcomes: (All) Cohorts 1-5
Program Outcomes
| #Employed In Industry | 74 | |
| #Employed In Comparable Industry | 15 | |
| #Non Responsive to Case Management | 10 | |
| Average Salary | $17.78 | |
| #Students Enrolled | 135 | |
| #Students Completed Training | 90 | |
| #Students Completed WBL | 30 |
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The RENEW Training Program served 28.8% female students and 72.02% male with 95.5% consisting of African American, Latino, Asian and mixed races. Two additional cohorts are currently being facilitated (1st quarter of 2022) by training partners, UL & GW, serving an additional 29 students.
Integral to the RENEW Training Program has been the fostering of the CAC and ongoing support provided to UL & GW. SchermCo is grateful to have worked with the City of Charlotte on this million dollar initiative and looks forward to facilitating more forward-thinking workforce development solutions to come.
Questions? Please get in touch with Greg Schermbeck at greg@scherm.co.