Bothell native and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis announced that the Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board will be receiving $5,973,635 to train Washington state workers in high-demand occupations needed for energy efficiency in commercial and public buildings. These awards are among the $190 million awarded nationally through the State Energy Sector Partnership and Training grant awards authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

This grant will help train and place approximately 4,731 dislocated workers, veterans, at‐risk youth, low‐income adults and individuals with disabilities. Participants may earn certificates in energy management, commercial energy auditing, residential energy auditing, commercial light auditing and photovoltaic installation and design.

“This grant will help close to 5,000 Washington state workers get the skills and training they need to succeed in the growing clean-energy industry,” said Murray. “Washington state is a national leader in the clean-energy sector and this grant will help ensure that our work force remains strong and able to fill the jobs of the 21st-century economy.”