Sustainable Georgia Futures Empowers Marginalized Communities Through Solar Energy Training Program
Sustainable Georgia Futures (SGF) was awarded a two-year, $200,000 Drawdown Georgia Climate Solutions and Equity Grant for 2024–2025. This funding has strengthened SGF’s ongoing partnership with WeatheRISE Atlanta—a joint initiative with the City of Atlanta, the National Association of Minority Contractors, and Greenlink Analytics—by expanding their capacity to advance climate and equity-focused work.
The grant also enabled SGF to launch an innovative pilot program designed to prepare residents from historically marginalized communities for careers in solar energy. Through this pre-certification initiative, four participants completed a seven-week introductory training in August. The program was intentionally structured to remove barriers to success—participants were paid for their time, provided with meals, and offered childcare services.
Following their pre-apprenticeship assessments—fully funded through the grant—the cohort has now progressed to a six-month paid certification and on-the-job training phase. They continue to receive comprehensive support services, including childcare, while working toward certifications from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), and the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).
Over the coming months, these apprentices will gain hands-on experience by working alongside certified solar professionals from local companies such as Be Smart Homes Solutions, Sunpath Solar, and Infinite Energy Advisors.
The Drawdown Georgia grant supporting SGF was made possible through a coalition of Georgia-based philanthropic organizations, including the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, the Wilbur and Hilda Glenn Family Foundation, the Reilly Family Fund, the Tull Charitable Foundation, the Ghanta Family Foundation, and the Atticus Fund.
The grant also enabled SGF to launch an innovative pilot program designed to prepare residents from historically marginalized communities for careers in solar energy. Through this pre-certification initiative, four participants completed a seven-week introductory training in August. The program was intentionally structured to remove barriers to success—participants were paid for their time, provided with meals, and offered childcare services.
Following their pre-apprenticeship assessments—fully funded through the grant—the cohort has now progressed to a six-month paid certification and on-the-job training phase. They continue to receive comprehensive support services, including childcare, while working toward certifications from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), and the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).
Over the coming months, these apprentices will gain hands-on experience by working alongside certified solar professionals from local companies such as Be Smart Homes Solutions, Sunpath Solar, and Infinite Energy Advisors.
The Drawdown Georgia grant supporting SGF was made possible through a coalition of Georgia-based philanthropic organizations, including the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, the Wilbur and Hilda Glenn Family Foundation, the Reilly Family Fund, the Tull Charitable Foundation, the Ghanta Family Foundation, and the Atticus Fund.
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