Workforce development is a core pillar of the Building Science Alliance, making its collaboration with CrossPurpose and the Energy Efficiency Business Coalition (EEBC) Fast Track program a natural extension of its work. CrossPurpose provides people with the tools, training, and support they need to secure meaningful employment and build lasting wealth, while the EEBC Fast Track program helps people who are justice-involved or facing barriers to employment enter the workforce. Together, these programs are creating pathways for community members to build meaningful careers and invest in their futures.
Cornelio Martinez of Maize Mechanical training prospective HVAC contractors in the Building Science Alliance methodology.
The group joined Cornelio of Maize Mechanical for an energy-efficient HVAC training session, but the experience held a deeper meaning for Corn. Having navigated the justice system himself, Corn understands the challenges many of these job seekers face. Finding a meaningful career path can be difficult on its own, and a history of justice-system involvement can create additional barriers to employment. Corn holds high standards for his trainees while providing the encouragement and support they need to pursue new opportunities.
Deb Goodman of the Energy Efficiency Business Coalition supports hands-on training for HVAC and Heat Pump technicians.
Corn’s commitment to workforce development is rooted in his belief in reciprocity. He does not take the opportunities he has received for granted, which is why giving back to his community is so important to him. That same principle guides the Building Science Alliance’s approach to workforce development. The organization seeks to strengthen the integrity of the contracting industry by creating opportunities for contractors to come from and work within the communities they serve—building trust and lasting relationships with homeowners in the process.
But the mission extends beyond homeowners. Through workforce development, the Building Science Alliance is helping lay the foundation for a new era in Colorado—one in which people have access to the tools, training, and support they need to build meaningful careers and reinvest in their communities.
