Atlantic City and Atlantic City Electric announced a new joint workforce development initiative Wednesday that would give residents opportunities for careers in the energy field.

The Atlantic City Infrastructure Program, which builds on a broader $6.5 million initiative launched in 2019, would focus on under-resourced community members in the seaside resort town, enabling participants to gain utility training and work ready skills to prepare them for careers.

Participants will take part in a 14-week program, two days per week for three hours. The training will take place at the Carnegie Library Center in Atlantic City and at the Atlantic City Electric utility training yard. The education portion will be provided by Atlantic Cape Community College through the South Jersey Workforce Development Program.

If the initiative is passed during this month’s Atlantic City Council meeting, the first group of 15 participants would begin training Nov. 1. The program would then hold two cohorts annually.

“It’s important we give our residents as many options as possible in the job market and provide them with opportunities they may not typically get,” said Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. “We look forward to working with Atlantic City Electric to put our residents in a position to succeed and prosper.”

The initiative has a goal of providing every graduate with a job opportunity while educating the state’s future energy workforce and helping the South Jersey economy.

“We are excited to do our part to ensure we are helping the people in our communities secure jobs that can be hard to reach for underserved populations,” said Tyler Anthony, president and CEO of Pepco Holdings, which includes Atlantic City Electric. “This program, along with our broader workforce development efforts, are critical to changing that narrative and are supporting program graduates with job offers, and a pathway to the middle class.”

More good news for AC

Late last month, Gov. Phil Murphy touted community investments for Atlantic City that come via the recently passed Fiscal Year 2023 budget. Click here to read more.