SMI & Hydraulics, Solar Skies, Empire Plumbing and Heating, and others/Southwest Initiative Foundation

Industry Partners

SMI & Hydraulics, Inc.

Solar Skies Mfg., LLC

Free Source Energies, LLC

Empire Plumbing & Heating

Environmental Well and Septic

Willmar Municipal Utilities

Kandiyohi Power Cooperative

Other Partners

Redwood Area School District #2897

University of Minnesota, Morris

SW/WC Service Cooperative

University of Minnesota West Central Partnership

Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTS)

Minnesota West Community & Technical College

The Minnesota Project

Redwood Area Development Corporation

Department of Employment and Economic Development

Central Minnesota Jobs & Training Services

Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council, Inc.

Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center

Geographic Area

23 counties in SW and WC Minnesota

Big Stone, Brown, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Stevens, Swift, Watonwan, Yellow Medicine

Grantee

Southwest Initiative Foundation

Summary

Youth Development in Renewable Energy through hands-on education and energy action projects

YES! is a program administered and implemented by the Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) and Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center (PWELC) that directly develops the talents of this region’s young people, providing them with knowledge, networks, and leadership skills that will place them at the forefront of our region’s future renewable energy workforce. This program serves as a model to build core competencies, identify and disseminate career and skill information, and increase the integration of our youth with business, industry and educational institutions through its energy action projects.

Amount Funded

$202,500