The Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA) and ComEd graduated 17 students from the FEJA Contractor Training Program. The HACIA/ComEd Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) Training Program is a free, 6-month development training program designed for small construction firm owners or managers that teaches critical solar photovoltaic skills and best practices in the construction industry.  “We are extremely proud of each and every one of our students who worked hard, demonstrated tremendous growth and graduated from the FEJA Contractor Training Program,” said Jorge Perez, Executive Director of the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association. “We are proud to partner with ComEd to invest in our communities and our workers and to pivot Illinois to the economy of the future.”

Program participants acquired a variety of skills that will help prepare them for the future of the energy industry including, but not limited to, basic photovoltaics, OSHA 10-hour, EPA renovation, repair and painting certification, LEED Green AP exam prep, blueprint reading, estimating, AutoCAD, and green construction. Upon completion of the program, participants had the opportunity to connect with professionals in the competitive solar photovoltaics industry. “I wanted to learn more about commercial construction since I had a residential background and after taking this program, I was able to hit the ground running,” said Vanessa L. Rhodes of Twenty Eleven Construction. “I partnered with another student in class and formed a joint venture. We ended up winning our biggest contract to date with Chicago Public Schools, which was very exciting.”