Colleges partnered with an EV battery factory to train students and ignite the economy. Trump's clean energy war complicates their plans

Toyota is building a battery plant in the small town of Liberty, North Carolina, and ushering in an economic revival. Along with the thousands of jobs it is expected to bring to the area, the company is working with community colleges and paying students to complete programs in which they learn the necessary skills to work at the plant.

Virginia's FastForward program helps students access job training programs and earn credentials faster at a lower cost, with participants paying only one third of the amount. Students who complete one of the eligible programs see their wages increase by an average of $14,869.

“Grow your own” programs, like Reach University’s, are working to address teacher shortages, particularly in rural areas, by recruiting school employees who don’t have college or education degrees and giving them a chance to earn an undergraduate degree in education at just $75 a month. Participants take courses online and take 15 hours out of their work week to spend time observing and training in classrooms. So far 84% of all parishes across the state have signed up to take Reach trainees, which could put a significant dent in the statewide teacher vacancy issue.

Community colleges such as Delaware Technical Community College and Lorain County Community College offer short-term certificate programs that are more accessible to adult learners and students with families. In 2022, the Delaware college awarded roughly 4,500 certificates and credentials.

The Sewing Labs provides apprenticeships that teach sewing skills as a route to jobs, financial independence and dignity. The Sewing Labs was recently chosen as one of 207 businesses to participate in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Ambassadors Initiative to present an “earn and learn” model to create equitable and debt-free pathways to good-paying jobs.

In Des Moines, Iowa, the Evelyn K. Davis Center provides wraparound support to a wide range of populations seeking stable employment. From internet access to financial counseling to job coaching, the center aims to "individualize ... game plans" and empower clients to become self-sufficient.

ACCESS Development Services trains women to drive electric auto rickshaws, providing them with marketable skills that help them earn a living independently. The all-women Pink City Rickshaw Company employs the women to provide tours throughout the city and has since trained over 200 women.

South Dakota technical colleges partner closely with the renewable energy industry through specialized academic programs, responsive curriculum changes, and targeted scholarships, effectively addressing workforce shortages, achieving high-paying job placements, and catalyzing local economic growth.

The Philadelphia-based company Solar States offers a paid training opportunity for city residents to learn to install solar panels and earn the necessary credentials to help them start careers in the industry. The company’s newest program, Find Your Ladder, is a training opportunity for people who have been through the criminal justice system.

The Women Radio Centre (WRC) works to empower the next generation of female investigative journalists, training them on reporting tactics to prevent gender disparities and promote reporting on women’s rights, as women are often underrepresented in investigative journalism. WRC also aims to equip young, female journalists with adequate training and connect them with job, networking and story opportunities. In WRC’s second year, 40 journalists have been trained and completed the program.