A new partnership between Edison Job Corps, Lyft and Asbury Park-based Solar Landscape is solving an old problem in a booming industry. Lyft has teamed up with Job Corps and Solar Landscape to provide hundreds of free rides to Job Corps graduates who need transportation to job interviews or a new job. The workforce-focused partnership expands access to equitable employment at a time of unprecedented federal investment in trades and clean energy sectors such as community solar.
The new partnership will provide hundreds of Lyft rides to Edison Job Corps students who need reliable transportation to job interviews or the first few weeks of a new job.
Getting to and from a work site is often cited by job seekers as a major challenge for securing and maintaining a new job. Programs that provide flexible transportation can be a critical link between qualified candidates in underrepresented communities and new sustainability-focused jobs spurred on by the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other state and federal policies.
STEP-UP — short for Solar Training and Education Partnerships for Underserved Populations — partners with national organizations to bring solar installation training to low- and moderate-income communities as part of community solar projects, which are hosted on commercial rooftops by national commercial real estate leaders. STEP-UP has trained nearly 2,500 residents in New Jersey, Illinois, Maryland and New Mexico.
“We are thrilled to be making an impact with such an innovative solution to a key challenge in our nation’s clean energy economy,” Celia Moreno, social impact lead at Lyft, said. “Together with Edison Job Corps and Solar Landscape, we can introduce people to good jobs that serve nearby communities and fight climate change.”
The project was facilitated by Solar Landscape’s STEP-UP leadership and the director of workforce at Solar Landscape, Kate Gold, who identified the need for reliable and flexible transportation at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ Clean Energy Conference last year.
“This partnership is truly a bridge to brighter futures,” Gold said. “As the demand for commercial rooftop solar continues to surge, so does the need for jobs in the sector. We’re grateful to Lyft and Edison Job Corps for innovating with us to creatively connect community members to jobs in clean energy and help kickstart new careers.”
Edison Job Corps will administer the program by providing the Lyft credits to its trainees and graduates.
“Our clean energy future can be inclusive and empowering, thanks to our work together,” Tony Staynings, business community liaison at Edison Job Corps in Edison, said. “Providing transportation to our students is an important complement to the training and recruitment programs we offer. Now, our students can join the clean energy workforce and be an active participant in fighting climate change.”
