HIRE360, CONSTELLATION, AND VEHICLES FOR CHANGE AWARD THREE VEHICLES TO LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRADUATES

HIRE360, CONSTELLATION, AND VEHICLES FOR CHANGE AWARD THREE VEHICLES TO LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRADUATES

Strengthening Pathways into the Trades with Reliable Transportation for Emerging Apprentices

CHICAGO, IL — Three aspiring trades professionals received life-changing support today as Vehicles for Change, with support from Constellation, awarded vehicles to candidates identified through HIRE360, Chicago Women in Trades, and Richland Community College's, pre-apprenticeship and workforce development programs across Illinois. The event, held at Liberty Auto in Libertyville, marked the first time Vehicles for Change—a Maryland-based organization renowned for empowering economically challenged families through car ownership and technical training—expanded its work into Illinois.

The vehicle recipients include a HIRE360 Clean Energy Construction Trades Pathway Program graduate and U.S. Army veteran preparing to apply to IBEW Local 134; a first-year Chicago Women in Trades mill cabinet apprentice caring for her parents; and a Richland Community College trainee who persevered through personal challenges to complete the program and pursue a new career path.

“This is what partnership in action looks like,” said Jay Rowell, Executive Director of HIRE360. “Our candidates show up every day with grit, dedication and a commitment to building a better life for their families. Removing barriers like transportation is essential, and we’re grateful to Constellation and Vehicles for Change for helping us make that possible.”

The event featured remarks from leaders across all participating organizations, walkthroughs of each refurbished vehicle, and emotional presentations as the keys were handed to the three recipients. Attendees highlighted the critical role transportation plays in accessing job sites, apprenticeships, and training programs—particularly for early-career tradespeople balancing work, family responsibilities, and demanding class schedules. The celebration underscored how public-private collaborations can remove barriers and accelerate pathways into family-sustaining careers.

“Constellation is proud to support Vehicles for Change’s expansion into Illinois and, in doing so, lift up these hardworking graduates as they take the next steps into rewarding trade careers,” said Ray Stringer, Vice President and Chief Inclusion and Workforce Development Officer, Constellation. “Access to reliable transportation is often the difference between opportunity and setback. Through our collaborations with Vehicles for Change, HIRE360 and Chicago Women in Trades on workforce development efforts through our Powering Change initiative, we’re ensuring more people can fully participate in the clean energy economy and the trades workforce of the future.”

“Vehicles for Change is excited to launch this new pilot in partnership with Constellation Energy and Liberty Auto Group,” said Martin Schwartz, President of Vehicles for Change. “Vehicles for Change brings our highly successful car ownership program to the region. This program will provide life-changing vehicles to residents, enabling them to access high-paying, career-leading jobs, as well as offering new opportunities for their children.”

To learn more about HIRE360, visit: https://hire360chicago.com.

To learn more about Constellation’s Powering Change workforce development initiative, visit: https://www.constellationenergy.com/our-impact/community/powering-change-investment.html

Launched in January 2020, HIRE360 is an industry-led, community-focused nonprofit ensuring that our future is built by all the communities that call Illinois home. As a workforce intermediary, we identify, recruit, skill up, and help community members navigate the union apprenticeship process. Our approach fosters a direct connection between employers and unions to develop workforce recruitment and training programs that meet the specific and timely employment needs of the construction industry. Our construction industry business development program creates wealth and contracting opportunities in Illinois’s communities by investing capital, time, and mentorship to help neighborhood businesses grow and thrive. Learn more at www.HIRE360Partners.org.

Constellation Energy Corporation (Nasdaq: CEG), a Fortune 200 company headquartered in Baltimore, is the nation’s largest producer of reliable, emissions-free energy and a leading energy supplier to businesses, homes and public sector customers nationwide, including three-fourths of Fortune 100 companies. With annual output that is nearly 90% carbon-free, our hydro, wind and solar facilities paired with the nation’s largest nuclear fleet have the generating capacity to power the equivalent of 16 million homes, providing about 10% of the nation’s clean energy. We are committed to investing in innovative technologies to drive the transition to a reliable, sustainable and secure energy future. Follow Constellation on LinkedIn and X.

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