Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC), in collaboration with ChargerHelp and Louisiana
Clean Fuels (LCF), launched the first no-cost Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE)
Operations and Maintenance Training course at BRCC’s Ardendale Campus, 2115 N. Lobdell
Blvd. This new course marks the beginning of the first cohort of students under the
GUMBO (Guaranteeing Access to Underserved and Marginalized Populations by Building
Employment Opportunities) initiative, which was announced last November.
“We are proud to launch this training as part of the GUMBO initiative with Louisiana Clean Fuels and ChargerHelp” said BRCC Chancellor Dr. Willie E. Smith. “This training will empower our community and provide sustainable and skilled employment opportunities in the clean transportation sector, helping to bolster our economy and workforce.”
The course, which has 16 students enrolled, runs through June 7, and adheres to the Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE) International standards. The curriculum offers comprehensive training in EV supply equipment operations and maintenance, preparing students for careers as nationally certified EVSE technicians.
The GUMBO initiative, unveiled last November, is a workforce development endeavor funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. It addresses the critical need for skilled technicians in the EV infrastructure sector and is part of a broader strategy to boost local employment and retain economic benefits within Louisiana. The initiative also aims to develop a replicable model for EVSE training that can be adopted nationwide.
“Louisiana Clean Fuels is proud to lead this innovative project that will ensure that our local workforce is trained and ready to install the infrastructure needed to support our state’s growing demand for electric vehicles,” said Ann Vail, Executive Director of Louisiana Clean Fuels. “This three-week service, maintenance, and repair training course marks a major milestone for the GUMBO initiative and is just the first of many offerings that will be developed and made available to our workforce through BRCC.”
“As the industry expert in charging station maintenance and repair, ChargerHelp is thrilled to forge ahead in this partnership with the GUMBO project team. With the expected increase of 1.5 million public charging stations by 2030, the time for a project such as this is perfectly aligned to support the needs of the infrastructure rollout. We are excited to be a part of a collaborative effort that is introducing local community residents to jobs of the future,” said Kianna Scott, ChargerHelp SVP of Learning and Development.
For more information about the GUMBO initiative and the EVSE training program, visit mybrcc.edu and louisianacleanfuels.org.
The GUMBO initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the Vehicle Technologies Program Office, Award Number DE-EE0010629