National Grid Awards $2 Million to Northland Workforce Training Center

Image

To support students who are pursuing careers in electrical construction and clean energy, National Grid is providing Northland Workforce Training Center with $2 million to be used toward the creation of a new Clean Tech Lab and Experience Center. National Grid will distribute the money to Northland over a five-year period.

The funding was made through National Grid's Corporate Affairs' Social Impact and Community Engagement Center of Excellence, which strives to create opportunities and provide support non-profit in communities across National Grid’s service area.

Northland will use the new, state-of-the-art training center to teach its Clean Energy program, which will be launched later this year. When construction is completed in the coming months, students will learn in an innovative smart facility that will include renewable energy technology, sustainable building systems and smart controls.

"National Grid has been a critical partner of Northland Workforce Training Center since the beginning,” said Stephen Tucker, Northland’s president and CEO. “They’ve utilized their economic development programs to assist with the rehabilitation of the Northland Corridor, supported our literacy and numeracy training, and helped purchase a van for student transportation. Recently, National Grid funding also was used to upgrade our electric lab. As such, today’s announcement is just another example of how National Grid is supporting the communities where they live and serve.”

"Our investment in Northland is part of our continued support for the communities we serve, and extends beyond just delivering energy; that’s because National Grid is doing our part to empower the next generation,” said Sally Librera, president of National Grid’s New York business. “Once complete, the new Clean Tech Lab and Experience Center will provide a unique, hands-on experience for students and represents the commitment that both Northland and National Grid have made to develop the local workforce and ultimately, build stronger communities for those we serve.”

“This funding is about investing in Western New York,” said Rep. Tim Kennedy D-NY. “Northland Workforce Training Center is proving what’s possible when public and private partners come together to give our community the tools to succeed. By training the next generation in clean energy and electrical construction, with this latest support from National Grid, we’re not just building careers – we’re building brighter futures for our students, stronger families, and a more resilient Western New York economy.”

New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, D-Buffalo said, “This funding is another example of the successes birthed from public-private partnerships. National Grid and Northland Workforce Training Center continue to support our communities by finding innovative ways to further build up our local workforce.”