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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Alison Lindburg, Director of Sustainability
DATE: December 9, 2025
SUBJECT:
A Resolution authorizing the execution of a license agreement with College of DuPage and 548 Foundation for a CEJA Workforce Development Hub at 649 S. River Street, Aurora, IL 60506.
PURPOSE:
The City of Aurora has an opportunity to bring living-wage job creation to Aurora through green job training. The City will be providing the space at 649 S. River Street for education and training to establish the CEJA Workforce Development Hub.
BACKGROUND:
The Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) Workforce Development Hub is the first to launch in the City of Aurora and one of thirteen established statewide in conjunction with the Clean and Equitable Jobs Act. This legislation, passed in 2021, assists in transitioning the State of Illinois to 100 percent clean energy by 2050. The Act also incentivizes renewable energy development, expands electric vehicle charging station infrastructure, and creates statewide clean energy workforce training programs. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has pledged to allocate $180 million annually to workforce and community programs like the CEJA Workforce Development Hub.
Programming at the CEJA Workforce Development Hub will be delivered by community-based organizations and partners, including the City of Aurora, College of DuPage and the 548 Foundation. These classes will help train area residents for clean energy jobs, which include administrative, sales, and other support functions in the following industries: solar energy, solar thermal, wind energy, electric vehicle, green hydrogen, energy efficiency, healthy building materials, and energy storage. In time, the Hub will expand its operations, serving as a learning and viewing center to help visitors understand energy efficiency within homes and buildings.
The College of DuPage and 548 Foundation have been struggling to find a space to rent that fits their unique needs within the Aurora city limits. 649 S. River Street, which the City owns, previously housed the Water and Sewer building for the Aurora Public Works Department. This space is currently unoccupied, and provides a large warehouse area with some office space, perfect for their needs in the short and long-term.
The City will be partnering with the College of DuPage’s CEJA entry-level Bridge Training, which provides students with three certifications, including CPR and First Aid, OSHA-10 Construction, and National Center For Construction Education and Research Core Construction. Upon successful completion of this training, students will be able to choose their next job-specific training in either Solar, Energy Auditing, HVAC-R, or Weatherization. All of these trainings provide industry-specific credentials or certifications, designed to provide students with ready-to-work skills.
The City will also work with the 548 Foundation, founded by AJ Patton in 2019. The Foundation provides renewable energy training programs to certify students as solar photovoltaic system installers. The program helps students earn photovoltaic associate credentials from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, an OSHA 30-Hour Construction Certification, plus basic construction skill training from the National Center For Construction Education and Research. Completion of this program qualifies graduates to become first-year apprentices in the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council. Additional partnerships are also being worked on, as the City looks to expand its current list of partners.
Graduates of the CEJA Workforce Development Hub will be prepared to perform energy audits, solar installation, and maintenance, and can be funded, in some cases, by a new financing mechanism to be enabled by the City called the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program. This financing tool allows commercial, industrial, and multi-family property owners to secure 100 percent of upfront, long-term funding for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation projects. The loan can be repaid as a voluntary assessment on the property tax bill over a period of up to 30 years. C-PACE will trigger a wave of new construction and retrofit projects across the City, creating an instant demand for green projects.
The City of Aurora was identified as one of 13 areas in Illinois for this Hub, as the program aims to target individuals living in equity investment-eligible communities, as well as those with potential barriers to employment. With this robust training program in place, the City has taken the first significant step in building towards a comprehensive climate plan.
DISCUSSION:
The license agreement supports the mission of the CEJA program by enabling the tenant to utilize the space for workforce development training and educational programs focused on clean energy, energy efficiency, and renewable energy sectors.
Through access to this space, the College of DuPage and 548 Foundation will provide critical job training, skill development, and educational opportunities to local residents, preparing them for careers in the growing clean energy industry. The program will emphasize skills that are directly tied to energy efficiency improvements, such as building retrofits, energy audits, and the installation of renewable energy technologies. The program also teaches essential skills for job retention, pays its students, and provides travel assistance and childcare.
This resolution authorizes the execution of a license agreement with College of DuPage, 548 Foundation, and the City of Aurora. The City shall provide access to the property at 649 S. River Street, and as part of its commitment to this important effort, is providing a fair and reduced rate.
The license agreement will not only revitalize a currently vacant City property but also contribute to the City’s broader economic development goals, helping to position Aurora as a leader in green jobs and energy efficiency while creating long-term value for the community.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
The access to this space allows College of DuPage and 548 Foundation to provide workforce development services that teach clean energy trades. This initiative will benefit the local community by creating new, sustainable job opportunities for residents, particularly in high-demand fields. Additionally, the energy efficiency training will help local businesses and households lower utility costs by increasing energy conservation, reducing energy waste, and implementing technologies that improve overall energy performance. As a result, residents and businesses in Aurora will benefit from lower utility bills, contributing to overall economic savings and environmental sustainability.
No negative impact will be incurred.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Approval of the resolution to enter into the aforementioned license agreement with College of DuPage and 548 Foundation at 649 S. River Street, Aurora, IL 60506.
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution authorizing the execution of a license agreement with College of DuPage and 548 Foundation for space at 649 S. River Street, Aurora, IL 60506.
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, The City of Aurora owns the property at 649 S. River Street, Aurora, IL 60506; and
WHEREAS, the Clean and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) incentivizes renewable energy development, expands electric vehicle charging station infrastructure, and creates statewide clean energy workforce training programs; and
WHEREAS, College of DuPage provides state-approved training through its CEJA Bridge Program and other advanced, job-specific training courses in solar installation, weatherization, energy auditor and HVAC (“Job Training”); and
WHEREAS, 548 Foundation provides renewable energy training programs to certify students as solar photovoltaic system installers and basic construction skill training through CEJA (“Job Training”); and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has chosen to be a partner and Sponsor of this activity. The City of Aurora, College of DuPage, and 548 Foundation wish to enter a license agreement for space at 649 S. River Street, Aurora, IL 60506, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, the Mayor or his designee are hereby authorized to sign Exhibit A, the License Agreement with the College of DuPage and 548 Foundation and any related documents, on behalf of the City of Aurora.