EP-ACT - Plug in Philly

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Plug In Philly, a City of Philadelphia-led initiative, will empower aspiring electric vehicle supplies and equipment (EVSE) workers. This pre-apprenticeship program will expand access to career-track training and employment in EVSE installation and maintenance work. Ultimately, Plug In Philly will increase and diversify the workforce needed to make a regional electric vehicle (EV) charging station network possible.

The City of Philadelphia has been awarded $1.47 million in federal funds from the U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office), supported by the Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO), through the Ride and Drive Electric grant program to fund the Plug In Philly initiative. The pilot is a workforce development program developed to recruit and train 45 diverse Philadelphians for careers in electric vehicle supplies and equipment (EVSE). The award comes from the $46.5 million made available by the Joint Office – established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) - for projects that bolster America’s EV charging infrastructure.

During the two-year pilot, a total of 45 participants over three cohorts will successfully complete the pre-apprenticeship program, and City officials are committed to helping these participants access pathways to permanent, fulltime jobs in the EV industry. Long-term aims include an increase in BIPOC, and women electricians employed by 2030 on Philadelphia public works projects.

The City will lead the initiative in partnership with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 and its training arm, Apprentice Training for the Electrical Industry (ATEI). Additional partners Include Philadelphia Works Inc. (PhilaWorks), Community College of Philadelphia (CCP), School District of Philadelphia (SDP), National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Philadelphia chapter which will help recruit participants, develop curriculum, and provide training.