Lyra’s Climatarium initiative was forwarded to the second round in a competitive national challenge, led by the nonprofit Jobs for the Future (JFF).
The Quality Green Jobs Regional Challenge is a multiyear initiative through Climate Resilient Employees for a Sustainable Tomorrow (CREST) led by JFF. The challenge will directly invest nearly $5 million in U.S. communities to develop regional quality green job strategies. CREST, the overarching project, is a five-year, $25 million grant funded initiative of the Ares Charitable Foundation, whose goal is to train and prepare individuals for climate resilient jobs in the United States and India.
The key goals of the challenge are offering green job training and placement in quality jobs to 25,000 individuals in driver regions nationwide; piloting strategies intended to disrupt occupational segregation; and helo 100,000 people gain a deeper understanding of regional climate-related challenges and opportunities in the labor market. Structured in three phases, the challenge aims to build connections across states, with an emphasis on rural regions, to co-create solutions to emerging green economic development challenges. While Climatarium is upstream of job placement, its perspective represents a growing need for early exposure to green careers and climate literacy.
The Phase I cohort included twenty organizations representing as many states, including local governments, institutes of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and regional utility companies. Lyra’s focus is unique in the challenge, in its representation of K12 pathways, and emphasis on early workforce exposure.Through the initial stage, Lyra had the opportunity to share learnings on green job marketing, demand data, and workforce development strategies with like minded organizations nationwide.
In Phase II Lyra plans to engage a cohort of partners, including Colorado Succeeds, the Alliance for Collective Action, Colorado Workforce Development Council and more to create resources for districts demonstrating the demand for green careers on a local and statewide level. We will use our unique connection to rural education leaders to create relevant resources and toolkits for integrating high-demand green skills into existing and emerging pathways.
Lasting through January 2025, Phase II funding will support Lyra’s goals of engaging green industry leaders, creating relevant materials to support pathway development, and catalyzing implementation of green skills in pathways across rural Colorado.
An additional round of funding, totalling $750,000, will be awarded to five organizations nationally in 2025 to support implementation of learnings over a three year period.
Meet the Other Phase II Winners
- Arizona State University | Arizona
- Inland Empire Labor Institute (IELI) / Plug In IE | Inland Empire, California
- Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF) | Southeast Louisiana
- Binghamton University | Southern Tier of New York
- The Industrial Commons | Western North Carolina
- Portland General Electric on behalf of Oregon Clean Energy Workforce Coalition (OCEWC) | Oregon
- Sustainable Pittsburgh | Southwestern Pennsylvania
- Utah State University | Utah
- University of Tennessee | Tennessee
Quality Green Jobs Regional Challenge grantees are supported in partnership with Ares Charitable Foundation’s Climate-Resilient Employees for a Sustainable Tomorrow (CREST) initiative.
About Climate-Resilient Employees for a Sustainable Tomorrow (CREST)
Climate-Resilient Employees for a Sustainable Tomorrow (CREST) is a five-year, $25 million career preparation and reskilling initiative of the Ares Foundation that aims to close the gap between the demand for a skilled workforce for green jobs and the number of people prepared for these opportunities.
About Jobs for the Future (JFF)
JFF drives transformation of the American workforce and education systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. www.jff.org
CREST and JFF
Climate change is causing shifts to the economy across all industries, creating a need for new jobs that require workers with new skills and capabilities. JFF is committed to supporting learners and workers to access and advance in quality green jobs through workforce development and upskilling solutions. By targeting opportunities for people who face systemic barriers to advancement, JFF will address both climate risk and equity to build a green, resilient and inclusive economy for all. To learn more, please visit JFF.org/crest.
About the Quality Green Jobs Regional Challenge
The Quality Green Jobs Regional Challenge is a multiyear CREST initiative led by JFF that will directly invest nearly $5 million in U.S. communities to develop regional quality green job strategies.
