As the nation races toward a clean energy future, Rochester is ensuring its residents benefit from the transition. The Clean Jobs Collaborative—led by NextCorps and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s MAKE IT Prize—is uniting industry, education, workforce, and community partners to position the region as a hub for clean energy manufacturing, while creating economic opportunities that reach every corner of the community.
Through a deeply collaborative model with more than 20 partners, the Collaborative is aligning efforts to attract manufacturers, train workers, and foster long-term growth without leaving anyone behind.
Organizing for impact: A five-workgroup model
At the heart of the initiative is a structured system that turns expertise into action. The Collaborative’s five workgroups keep efforts aligned without overlap:
- Companies — Attracting clean energy manufacturers to Rochester. Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE) leads efforts to bring in established companies, while NextCorps supports early-stage startups through its accelerator programs. Together, they help new companies overcome regional entry barriers and ensure strong support from the start.
- Facilities and Utilities — Identifying suitable sites and infrastructure. This includes exploring alternative energy sources to meet sustainability goals.
- Interaction and Impact — Amplifying employer/employee programs and equitable hiring practices. Highlighting companies with strong hiring and retention models helps under-resourced communities access quality jobs.
- Skills and Education — Evaluating educational resources and identifying barriers to training access and skills certification. The team is exploring new pathways that meet local demand, such as GreenSpark Solar’s demand for solar installer training programs.
- Community — Building awareness and excitement for clean energy careers. This workgroup is focused on reaching out across the city, from schools and libraries to barbershops and childcare centers.
“If you’re a manufacturer, you can focus on siting and scaling,” said Mike Marvin, NextCorps’ startup manufacturing program coordinator, and a key driver of the Collaborative. “If you’re in workforce development, you can build training programs. It’s efficient because everyone stays in their lane, but we’re all driving toward the same goal.”
A region ready to lead
Few mid-sized cities can match Rochester’s combination of industrial infrastructure, innovation assets, and technical talent.
“Rochester has the bones and the brains,” said Kathleen Martin, NextCorps manufacturing business advisor and another Collaborative lead. “We’re not starting from scratch. We’re building on a legacy of innovation.”
Facilities like Kodak’s roll-to-roll processing lines remain invaluable resources for companies developing advanced manufacturing techniques. Institutions like RIT’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability and Monroe Community College’s Economy & Workforce Development Center are preparing the next generation of clean energy workers, while groups like Rochester Technology & Manufacturing Association (RTMA) and Young Adult Manufacturing Training Employment Program (YAMTEP) support skilled trades training outside traditional four-year paths.
Equally important is the city’s culture of partnership. From clean energy leaders like Plug Power and GreenSpark Solar, to community-based organizations like Rochester Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative (RMAPI), RochesterWorks, and Action for a Better Community, stakeholders are actively working side by side to shape a clean energy economy that reflects local values.
Leaders behind the work
The Clean Jobs Collaborative is guided by professionals like Marvin and Martin, who bring a mix of technical expertise and a commitment to community impact. With backgrounds spanning product design, engineering, and startup support, they’re helping early-stage manufacturers move from prototype to production while building systems that support long-term regional growth.
They’re joined by other contributors who are expanding the initiative’s reach. Janelle Paulino, a clean energy database intern and student at St. John Fisher University, spent time this summer building a resource that outlines local clean energy career paths and training programs.
“It’s about giving people a map,” she said. “If you don’t know where to start, this resource can help.”
Shawn “Gee” Goburn, who helped bring Paulino into the initiative, contributes strategic insight across multiple workgroups and leads marketing and community outreach efforts to strengthen the Collaborative’s engagement and visibility.
Join the movement
The Clean Jobs Collaborative is more than an initiative—it’s a movement to build a cleaner, fairer economy in Rochester. Whether you’re a manufacturer looking to expand, a school opening new career pathways, or a resident interested in reducing your carbon footprint, there’s a role for you.
“We’re really trying to build something that makes sense to the community, for the community,” said Martin. “This is about creating change that’s sustainable because it’s collaborative.”
To learn more or get involved, reach out to mike.marvin@nextcorps.org or kathleen.martin@nextcorps.org, or visit nextcorps.org/clean-jobs-collaborative.