New A.C. Electric program would plug Atlantic City residents into career training

Atlantic City is hoping to spark new lives for residents through a training partnership with Atlantic City Electric.

The first 15 residents will begin a 14-week program next month that will prepare them for the various jobs available in electrical work.

“We’re extremely committed to the Atlantic City area,” said Tyler Anthony, chief executive officer of Atlantic City Electric’s parent company, Pepco Holdings.

The goal is to eventually have two to three cohorts a year with 20 to 25 residents in attendance, Mayor Marty Small said.

“These people now will not only have a career, they can buy a home in Atlantic City, spend money in the community,” Small said. “I’m so thrilled and excited that this is happening under the Small administration.”

The Atlantic City Infrastructure Program is intended to build on a broader six-year, $6.5 million South Jersey Workforce Development Program that Atlantic City Electric launched in 2019. It is a concerted effort that would include four South Jersey workforce development boards and three vocational schools.

“This is what a public-private partnership looks like,” Small said.

“The talent we can mine out of programs like this, it just makes us a better company,” Anthony said.

Those looking to attend the inaugural class will be able to apply online at acnj.gov beginning Thursday, the mayor said.

Anthony said most people are familiar with the work Atlantic City Electric does.

“When you think of an electric company, you know what we do,” he said. “We keep the lights on. But how we do it and what we do it with is even more important.”

This program goes beyond that work, he explained.

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“There was a time in all of our lives, whether it was a teach, whether it was a coach or a parent that took the concern and believed in each of us,” Anthony said. “This is not just about technical education. This is about mentorship. This is about supporting values and strong work ethic.”

It’s a “historic partnership,” the mayor said.

“We are grateful that you guys want to come to the city of Atlantic City and give back,” he said.

The program still must pass City Council on Sept. 21.

The plan is for training to take place at the Carnegie Library Center in Atlantic City and at the Atlantic City Electric utility training yard located at the Anthony “Tony” Canale Training Center in Egg Harbor Township. It would be for two days per weeks for three hours each.

Program education would be provided by Atlantic Cape Community College through the South Jersey Workforce Development Program.

Atlantic City Electric has several other initiatives to help residents with career opportunities:

• The company recently joined Jingoli Power to provide jobs to 16 Atlantic City young adults as part of its Atlantic City/Brigantine Community Reliability Project.
• The company’s High School Energy Career Academy is a four-year program focused on preparing students in grades 9 through 12, for entering post-secondary education or moving directly to employment in the energy field.
• Its Spark Internship Program provides an eight-week summer paid work experience and work-readiness education for rising South Jersey high school juniors and seniors with an interest in engineering, IT, technical services, trades, environmental studies and other energy industry relevant subject areas.
• The Exelon STEM Academy is a free, six-day summer program by Atlantic City Electric’s parent company, where junior and senior high school girls take part in activities crafted to support their understanding of STEM career options and college programs that can help them gain access and achieve success in a number of energy related positions.
• Through the company’s Community Scholars Program, hundreds of South Jersey students have received support of up to $5,000 to pursue degrees in various disciplines, including STEM and business-related fields.

Residents of Atlantic City interested in participating in the Atlantic City Infrastructure Program can contact Rachele Dorsey at Rachele.Dorsey@exeloncorp.com.

To learn more about Atlantic City Electric, visit The Source, Atlantic City Electric’s online newsroom. Find additional information by visiting atlanticcityelectric.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/AtlanticCityElectric, and on Twitter at twitter.com/AcEleCconnect. Atlantic City Electric’s mobile app is available at atlanticcityelectric.com/MobileApp.