Workforce outreach funding requests approved

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) approved three funding requests, totaling more than $650,000, for its workforce outreach plan.

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PERC’s work in the area of workforce outreach continues efforts from 2019, when it launched programs to develop resources and understand the needs of the market, says Bridget Kidd, senior vice president of industry relations at PERC.

The council’s objectives with workforce outreach include generating awareness about the propane industry and its career opportunities, and driving action for job placement and training. Kidd says PERC wants to empower the industry to act so workforce outreach is not solely a council or National Propane Gas Association function.

“The success of any of these activities and initiatives really falls on interested associations and other state entities, and participation with marketers,” she adds.

PERC’s plan is to create tools and resources for propane marketers, state associations and educational partners to bridge the gap, capture the attention of interested employees and bring them into the propane industry.

Here are the workforce outreach funding requests approved by the council in April:

• $400,000 for a 2020 technical school grant program, which will provide up to $10,000 in grants to upgrade and expand the labs of technical schools and career centers interested in teaching propane curriculum to current and future students. The program also will provide the marketing and communications support necessary to promote the program.
• $250,000 for 2020 workforce outreach support creating awareness of the propane industry as a viable career choice for several segments of the potential workforce (students, veterans and those transitioning) through partnerships with states and marketers and creating the tools and resources to implement the program at a local level.
• $12,230 to permit the Propane Education Foundation of Alabama to use its state rebate funds to purchase 26 tablets to use for workforce classroom training and exams.

Workforce outreach materials are available at propane.com. The council’s next meeting is scheduled for July 21-22 in Beaver Creek, Colorado.