Programs

  • Workforce Development Initiatives

    WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES PAVE PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT IN CLEAN ENERGY FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS, CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS HELP CLEAN ENERGY EMPLOYERS EMBRACE, INCORPORATE, AND ACHIEVE DEI GOALS IN THEIR RECRUITMENT, HIRING, AND RETENTION ACTIVITIES. OUR PROGRAMING IN THIS AREA INCLUDES: I.PROSPECTS: BROWNING THE GREEN SPACE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH XODUS GROUP, DESIGNED AND LAUNCHED A MULTIFACETED WORKFORCE PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES TARGETED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGNS TO DELIVER AN OVERVIEW OF THE OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES, AND DEMONSTRATION OF PATHWAYS TO INDUSTRY EMPLOYMENT THROUGH INTERNSHIPS AND PRE-APPRENTICESHIPS. THROUGH THE PROGRAM, WE HAVE REACHED 400+ HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH EVENTS WITH EMPLOYERS AND POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS TO EXPOSE STUDENTS TO CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN CLEAN ENERGY. II. STUDENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM SUCCESS (SIPS) INITIATIVE: BGS HAS SERVED AS A TRAINING PROVIDER FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS CLEAN ENERGY CENTER'S SIPS INITIATIVE (FORMERLY THE TARGETED INTERNSHIP PROGRAM) FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS. THIS PROGRAM STARTED AS A PILOT PROJECT IN 2021 TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF DIVERSITY WITHIN MASSCEC'S EXISTING SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. BGS PARTICIPATED AS A TRAINING PROVIDER IN THAT PILOT PROGRAM AND CONTINUED EACH SUBSEQUENT SUMMER ULTIMATELY TAKING OVER AS THE LEAD PROVIDE FOR THE 2024 AND 2025 SESSIONS, BGS'S ROLE AS A TRAINING PROVIDER IS TO RECRUIT AND MATCH FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS, PELL GRANT RECIPIENTS AND RESIDENTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH CLEAN ENERGY EMPLOYERS FOR SUMMER INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. BEYOND SCREENING AND MATCHING STUDENTS WITH INTERNSHIPS, BGS PROVIDES EMPLOYER ORIENTATION AND CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS, INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL SKILL-BUILDING WORKSHOPS, CLEAN ENERGY CAREER EXPOSURE OPPORTUNITIES, A MENTORING PROGRAM WITH PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING WITHIN THE COHORT. OVER THE FIRST 5 YEARS OF THE PROGRAM, BGS RECRUITED, PLACED, AND SUPPORTED OVER 150 INTERNS AND OVER 300 EMPLOYERS WITH TRAINING AROUND BUILDING MORE INCLUSIVE AND SUPPORTIVE INTERNSHIP ENVIRONMENTS. III.RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE OUTREACH AND RECRUITMENT: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BENJAMIN FRANKLIN CUMMINGS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, BGS PROVIDED OUTREACH, RECRUITMENT, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO STUDENTS FOR A NEW RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSOCIATES DEGREE PROGRAM AT BFIT. THE GOAL OF THIS PARTNERSHIP WAS TO INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT THE NEW ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE PROGRAM BY EXPOSING STUDENTS TO CLEAN ENERGY TOPICS AND HIGH-PAYING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS SECTOR. BGS AND BFIT HELD VIRTUAL INFO SESSIONS ABOUT THE PROGRAM, TWO RENEWABLE ENERGY CAREER DAYS FOR STUDENTS OF DEARBORN STEM ACADEMY, ACADEMY OF THE PACIFIC RIM, MARY LYONS PILOT HIGH SCHOOL, YOUTHBUILD BOSTON, BOSTON DAY AND EVENING ACADEMY, EXCEL ACADEMY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL, PHOENIX CHARTER ACADEMY (CHELSEA), CITYLAB HIGH SCHOOL (REVERE) AND JOHN D. O'BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL OF MATH AND SCIENCE, A BGA SENIOR INTERN PROJECT AROUND STUDENT VIDEO CREATION, AND A POWER YOUR FUTURE CAREER DAY ATTENDED BY STUDENTS OF MADISON PARK VOCATIONAL/TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL, DEARBORN STEM, SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, CHARLESTOWN HIGH SCHOOL, AND BOSTON GREEN ACADEMY AT GREENTOWN LABS. IN TOTAL, THIS PROGRAM REACHED 130 STUDENTS. RHODE ISLAND CLEAN ENERGY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: BGS IS WORKING AS THE EDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITY PARTNER FOR THE RHODE ISLAND OFFICE OF ENERGY RESOURCES (OER) IN SUPPORT OF THEIR CLEAN ENERGY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. BGS WORKS TO RECRUIT STUDENTS OF COLOR FOR INTERNSHIPS WITH RI-BASED CLEAN ENERGY COMPANIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFITS. IN ADDITION TO THEIR INTERNSHIP, ALL STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM RECEIVE CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, MENTORING, AND CONNECTIONS WITH PEERS AT OTHER COMPANIES THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. BGS IS PARTNERED WITH EMERALD CITIES COLLABORATIVE TO PROVIDE CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. DURING THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE PROGRAM BGS RECRUITED, SCREENED, SUPPORTED INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT AND PROVIDED CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING FOR 50+ STUDENTS. ACHIEVE GREEN: ACHIEVE GREEN IS A GREEN CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, PROVIDING PATHWAYS INTO UNION AND NONUNION ROLES. ACHIEVE GREEN POSITIONS YOUNG PEOPLE TO SUCCEED BY OPENING DOORS TO STEADY,WELL-PAYING WORK AND PROVIDING ROBUST WRAPAROUND SUPPORT, INCLUDING CAREER COACHING AND BARRIER REMOVAL FUNDING. LAUNCHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TREMCO AND THE RISING STARS PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS CURRENTLY SELECT BETWEEN A GLAZING PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PATHWAY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FINISHING TRADES UNION (IUPAT) OR AN ENERGY AUDITOR/RFI MODELER PATHWAY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NORTHEAST HOME ENERGY RATERS ALLIANCE (NEHERS). ADDITIONAL PARTNERS INCLUDE JULIUS EDU AND ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE. PROGRAMS CURRENTLY OPERATE IN BOSTON AT MADISON PARK VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL AND BOSTON DAY AND EVENING ACADEMY, AND IN BROCKTON AT BROCKTON HIGH SCHOOL. IN THE FIRST 2 YEARS OF THE PROGRAM 8 STUDENTS COMPLETED THE PRE-APPRENTICESHIP GLAZING PATHWAY WITH THE IUPAT. THESE PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED IN ADDITIONAL CAREER NAVIGATION AND COACHING FROM JULIUS EDU, AND RECEIVED EDUCATIONAL TRAINING IN BUILDING SCIENCE PRINCIPLES AND BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS FROM ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THE ENERGY AUDITING PATHWAY IS PILOTING THIS YEAR WITH 1-2 STUDENT PARTICIPANTS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $223.8K

  • Business Development Initiatives

    BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: OUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES ENABLE ENTREPRENEURS AND FOUNDERS WORKING IN CLIMATETECH, CLEAN ENERGY CONTRACTORS OF COLOR, AND INVESTORS OF COLOR WORKING IN CLEAN ENERGY GAIN ACCESS TO RESOURCES INCLUDING NETWORKS, CONTRACTS, CAPITAL, ACCELERATORS AND INCUBATORS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. OUR PROGRAMING IN THIS AREA INCLUDES: I.ACCESS (ACCELERATING CONTRACTORS OF COLOR IN ENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE SUCCESS): BGS DESIGNED, DEVELOPED AND PILOTED A NEW 8-WEEK BOOT CAMP FOR ASPIRING CLEAN ENERGY BUSINESS OWNERS. THE GOAL OF ACCESS IS TO BUILD WEALTH WITHIN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES BY CREATING NEW CONTRACTING BUSINESSES, WHO WILL IN TURN BOOST ADOPTION OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY WITHIN THOSE COMMUNITIES. THROUGH WEEKLY VIRTUAL CLASSES AND INDEPENDENT ASSIGNMENTS, ACCESS PARTICIPANTS LEARN BUSINESS FUNDAMENTALS INCLUDING CUSTOMER DISCOVERY, PRODUCT-MARKET-FIT, AND GO-TO- MARKET STRATEGY, AS WELL AS STORYTELLING AND PRESENTATION SKILLS. THE 2022 PILOT PROGRAM SERVED 15 PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING 9 NEW BUSINESSES AND 6 ASPIRING BUSINESS OWNERS, ACROSS MULTIPLE TRADES: ELECTRICAL, HVAC, IRONWORK, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, ENGINEERING, ROOFING, INSULATION. OUR CLOSING SHOWCASE, IN WHICH ACCESS PARTICIPANTS PRESENTED THE BUSINESS PITCHES THEY DEVELOPED DURING THE PROGRAM, HOSTED OVER 50 ATTENDEES FROM OUR PARTNER PROGRAM, STATE AND MUNICIPAL SUPPLIER DIVERSITY OFFICERS, TRADE UNIONS, AND OTHERS FROM THE CLEAN ENERGY ECOSYSTEM. BGS WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ACCESS GRADUATES THROUGH MENTORSHIP AND SUPPLEMENTAL WEBINARS, WORKSHOPS, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, AND OTHER RESOURCES. GRADUATED 47 ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THROUGH THE 3 COHORTS: 26 NEWLY ESTABLISHED BUSINESS OWNERS AND 21 ASPIRING BUSINESS OWNERS. II.ACCEL : ADVANCING CLIMATETECH AND CLEAN ENERGY LEADERS PROGRAM (ACCEL) IS A NEW 12-MONTH CLIMATETECH ACCELERATOR PROGRAM FOR EARLY STAGE BIPOC-LED STARTUPS THAT COMBINES A CURATED CURRICULUM, MENTORSHIP THAT LEVERAGES THE BGS NETWORK, INCUBATION AT GREENTOWN LABS IN SOMERVILLE AND HOUSTON, AND NON-DILUTIVE GRANTS OF 25K PER TEAM TO SUPPORT THE STARTUP'S GROWTH. BGS WORKED WITH GREENTOWN TO DESIGN THE PROGRAM, RECRUIT APPLICANTS, AND SELECT OVER 3 COHORTS SUPPORTED 21 BIPOC CLIMATE TECH COMPANIES.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $347.7K

  • Community Development Initiatives

    COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES INCREASE THE ADOPTION OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND/OR LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES BY NOT ONLY INCREASING AWARENESS BUT ALSO BY ADVOCATING TO REMOVE STRUCTURAL DISINCENTIVES. OUR PROGRAMING IN THIS AREA INCLUDES: I.MASS SAVE COMMUNITY FIRST PARTNERSHIP: BGS IS A PARTICIPANT IN A COMMUNITY FIRST PARTNERSHIP (CFP) PROGRAM TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS IN MASSACHUSETTS GATEWAY CITIES AND OTHER UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. II.DOE COMMUNITIES LEAP: BGS IS LEADING A DOE COMMUNITIES LEAP (LOCAL ENERGY ACTION PROGRAM) PILOT IN LAWRENCE, MA THAT PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AMONGST NATIONAL LABS AND OTHER EXPERTS, GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL PARTNERS, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND INVESTOR-OWNED UTILITIES, AS WELL AS ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND EQUITY ORGANIZATIONS. III.NREL AMERICAN-MADE CHALLENGES JEDI (JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION) POWER CONNECTOR: BGS PROVIDES SERVICES RELATED TO RECRUITMENT, OUTREACH, AND NETWORK GROWTH, AS WELL AS COMPETITOR & PROGRAMMATIC JEDI ADVISING. IN THE JEDI POWER CONNECTOR ROLE, BGS SUPPORTS NREL'S GOAL TO RECRUIT FOUNDERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS FROM DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, SUPPORT TEAM DIVERSITY, HELP PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS INCORPORATE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION INTO THEIR COMPANY CULTURE, AND UNDERSTAND UNDERLYING PROBLEMS LIMITING CLEAN ENERGY ADOPTION IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. AS PART OF THIS WORK, BGS PROVIDED RECRUITMENT AND OUTREACH SUPPORT FOR THE AMC COMMUNITY CLEAN ENERGY COALITION PRIZE THAT INCLUDED OUTREACH AND RECRUITMENT SUPPORT, TEAMING EVENTS THAT ENGAGED OVER 87 ORGANIZATIONS AND COMPANIES, A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT "HACKATHON" FOR 50+ STUDENTS ACROSS THREE 9TH GRADE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES CLASSES AT BOSTON GREEN ACADEMY, AND DIRECT APPLICATION SUPPORT FOR 10 TEAMS. COMMUNITY CONNECTOR INITIATIVE (CCI): BGS COMMUNITY CONNECTOR INITIATIVE (CCI) SEEKS TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE AND DIVERSE APPLICANT TEAMS FOR STATE CLEAN ENERGY GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO MAXIMIZE ACCESS TO CAPITAL IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS. THE INITIATIVE AIMS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS BY CREATING APPROACHABLE AND ENGAGING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CBOS AND PARTNERS THAT ARE NEW TO THE CLEAN ENERGY SECTOR TO LEARN HOW TO NAVIGATE THE CLEAN ENERGY AND CLIMATE FUNDING ECOSYSTEM IN MASSACHUSETTS. CCI SERVICES FOCUS ON CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, TEAM DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT, FUNDING OPPORTUNITY MATCHING, AND CONNECTION TO DIRECT SUPPORT FROM BGS AND OTHER RESOURCE PARTNERS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $71.6K