State Awards Man-Tra-Con $2.3M to Train Southern Illinois Residents for Clean Energy Jobs

The funding will support free workforce training programs in solar installation and other clean energy fields across 19 counties.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has awarded Man-Tra-Con Corporation $2,347,608 to operate a free clean energy workforce training hub serving 19 Southern Illinois counties. The funding comes through the state's Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which is investing in workforce training as the clean energy industry grows. Man-Tra-Con's first training cohort, a 16-week solar installation program based in Harrisburg, is now underway with plans to train 130 residents in year one, with additional cohorts at locations throughout the region to be announced.

Why it matters

The program aims to ensure that Southern Illinois residents, rather than out-of-state crews, are the ones building the region's clean energy future. It is designed to provide free training and support services to help residents who have faced barriers to traditional job training, including parents, young adults, and those re-entering the workforce.

The details

Participants in the program earn an OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety Certification, First Aid/CPR Certification, and are prepared to sit for the NABCEP PV Associate exam, a nationally recognized solar credential. Job placement support continues for 12 months after graduation. Man-Tra-Con has been connecting Southern Illinois residents with jobs and job training for nearly 50 years and consistently places more than three-quarters of participants in employment.

  • The first training cohort, a 16-week solar installation program, is now underway in Harrisburg.
  • Additional cohorts at locations throughout the region will be announced in the coming months.

The players

Man-Tra-Con Corporation

A workforce development organization that has been connecting Southern Illinois residents with jobs and job training for nearly 50 years.

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)

The state agency that awarded the $2.3 million in funding to Man-Tra-Con through the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA).

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What’s next

Additional training cohorts at locations throughout the 19-county region will be announced in the coming months.

The takeaway

This program demonstrates how state-level investment in clean energy workforce development can create opportunities for local residents to participate in the growing clean energy industry and build a more sustainable future for their communities.