SMUD Shine Program Award

Geographic Scope: Sacramento County, California (SMUD service area)

Announcement Date: June 5, 2025

Focus Areas:

• Clean energy workforce development
• Justice-impacted young adult employment support
• Workforce transition and readiness
• Clean energy STEM education
• Environmental justice and equity
• Zero carbon workforce development
• Youth training and job readiness for under-resourced communities

Target Population:

• Justice-impacted young adults
• Under-resourced community members
• EDD Opportunity Young Adult (OYA) Career Pathway Program participants (100+ participants)

Program Components:

• Stipends for workforce readiness and training
• Career coaching
• Supportive services
• Economic barrier reduction for workforce reentry

Partner Organizations:

• NextGen Policy (grant recipient)
• Clover Agency (strategic partner)

Background: SMUD is the nation's sixth-largest, community-owned, not-for-profit electric service provider serving Sacramento County for over 75 years. The Shine program supports nonprofits that engage key communities in transitioning to a clean energy future. Research from North Carolina State University shows that within the first year of release, about 37% of formerly incarcerated individuals find employment nationally.