ComEd and HIRE360 joined members of the community to recognize the first class of graduates of the Take Charge: Pre-Apprenticeship program, a first-of-its-kind program to prepare local residents for careers supporting the fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) industry in Illinois. A diverse class of 17 graduates from across the Chicagoland area has completed the 8-week training program, preparing them to meet entry-level trades roles at ComEd and at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 134. The new program is part of ComEd’s plan to grow the workforce to meet evolving demands facing the grid, with EV adoption quickly accelerating in Illinois. Today, there are 80,000 registered statewide, and 70,000 registered in ComEd’s service territory alone, up from just over 19,000 statewide in 2019. The shift toward EVs and a clean energy economy is expected to create a significant number of jobs in the ears ahead, with a recent study estimating that as many as 150,000 new clean energy jobs coming to Illinois by 2050. The inaugural Take Charge program featured a diverse class of trainees from across Chicago, with 16 individuals of color, and four women, and with ages spanning from 18 to 51. As part of a commitment to ensuring more women and people of color can be represented in training for the trades, HIRE360 prioritized recruitment of diverse candidates from across Chicago and the region, with a focus on training in communities in the south and west sides. For more on ComEd career readiness programs, please visit www.comed.com/cleanenergyjobs.