Goodwill to open clean tech job training lab in Greenville

Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina will open a lab that will offer job training for opportunities in the clean energy industry.

A grand opening is planned for the Clean Tech Accelerator Lab on July 17 at 412 Sulphur Springs Road in Greenville, according to a news release. It is the only lab of its kind in the state, the organization says.

This new training hub will serve as a launch pad for high-paying, high-growth careers in the booming clean energy economy, providing hands-on learning in solar and storage systems, heat pump installation, and electric vehicle supply equipment technology, according to the news release.

With more than 9 million jobs projected nationally in these fields over the next decade, the Clean Tech Accelerator meets this moment with a nationally designed training model focused on equity, access and rapid skill development for underserved communities, the release stated. Participants will receive paid, full-time training, nationally recognized certifications, supportive services and job placement assistance — all in a five-week program.

“This is more than a training center,” said Monique McDaniels, vice president of community and workforce development for Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina. “It is an opportunity engine — empowering people, diversifying the workforce and driving South Carolina’s clean energy economy forward.”

Currently enrolling for its inaugural heat pump technician training program, the accelerator trains participants to join the growing clean tech industry, where South Carolina’s mean salary for heat pump installers is $50,680, the release stated. With a 22% increase in demand since 2018 and over 1,700 open jobs statewide, this training accelerates the path to a stable, purpose-driven career with long-term potential.

The accelerator’s new 1,000-plus-square-foot Clean Tech Lab is designed for immersive, hands-on training, the release stated. The lab is intended to simulate real-world installation and diagnostic environments, ensuring graduates are job-ready from day one.

To qualify, participants must be 18 or older and meet specific program requirements, according to the release.

Goodwill’s Clean Tech Lab was developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, Accenture, GM, GRID Alternatives, Lowe’s Foundation Gable Grants and the Climate & Community Lab.

The public is invited to the grand opening.