Building Clean Energy Careers: The JumpStart Program
For young adults ages 18 to 24 in King County, the path to sustainable, living-wage careers is taking shape through JumpStart, an innovative program transforming lives while building a skilled workforce for the region’s clean energy future. This forward-thinking initiative combines specialized training with paid work experiences, creating opportunities beyond just employment.
Transforming Lives Through Opportunity
For Juan Pablo Avila, JumpStart offered an unexpected path to a fulfilling career. “I initially joined this pre-apprenticeship program from hearing from one of my coworkers… ever since, we kind of fell in love with this entire program and just getting into construction.”
The program’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is a core value. JumpStart addresses historical inequities while meeting the growing demand for skilled workers in clean energy fields. This dual purpose creates what program manager Michael Carter calls a “triple impact”—sustainable careers for participants, skilled workers for employers, and environmental benefits for King County.
Creating Value for Employers
Local businesses benefit significantly from the program. Will Sumner, a solar power business owner in Rainier Valley, recognized a disconnect: “The demographics of our staff do not fit with the demographics of our neighborhood… By lowering that barrier and paying for their wages, it just allows us to bring these folks in.”
Morgan Zehrung from Forecast Solar emphasizes the broader impact: “This program has allowed us to do that, which has been big for us… being able to help the community. That, in turn, would help the community create a stronger society overall.”
Building Skills and Community
What distinguishes JumpStart isn’t just the technical training; it’s the holistic approach to career development and community building. Tim Miller’s experiences highlight this transformation: “They provided an opportunity of a lifetime… now I have a career where I could support myself as well as a family.”
Derek Jones, an instructor with the Seattle Central PACT program, witnesses growing interest for current students to participate in JumpStart: “A lot of our students now found out about what they’re doing, and they’re very interested in what’s going on there.”
More Than Just Training
Program graduates consistently describe JumpStart as a life-changing experience that impacts far more than just their employment status. Combining specialized training, paid work experience, and ongoing support creates a foundation for long-term success.
“I’m a justice-impacted person. I’ve only been home for… roughly six months, and they put me in a position to have a career. I’ve used to usually had dead-end jobs, and now I have a career which could hopefully sustain me for the rest of my life,” shares Tim Miller.
The diversity of career paths available through JumpStart reflects the breadth of the clean energy sector. As Michael Carter explains, “We’re bringing as many people to the table as possible to ensure that we are building a diverse, informed, and skilled workforce that’s ready to handle the ambitious climate goals that we have as an office and a region.”
As King County implements its climate action plans, JumpStart continues expanding through partnerships with local employers, community organizations, and training providers. The program meets the growing demand for skilled workers while creating pathways for those who have traditionally faced barriers to high-paying technical careers, building an equitable clean energy future for the region.