The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) has been awarded $450,000 from the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to develop and launch a training program focused on maintaining and repairing EV charging infrastructure. The program will be delivered in partnership with SmarterHelp, a workforce development company recently spun off from EVSE reliability specialist ChargerHelp.
Training is to begin later this year at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, following the buildout of a dedicated Smart Lab equipped with EV charging units and instructional tools.
Once launched, the program will provide hands-on training designed to prepare New Yorkers for in-demand technical roles in the growing EV sector.
Participants will gain skills in:
- Electrical systems and codes
- Energy fundamentals
- EV charging equipment maintenance and repair
- Industry certification preparation
Graduates of the part-time program will earn industry-recognized credentials and be connected to job placement opportunities developed by BNYDC and SmarterHelp.
“As New York expands its EV charging network, it’s critical that we have trained technicians ready to support and sustain that growth,” said NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll.
“We’ve always believed that technology alone isn’t enough—you need people prepared to maintain and lead the systems of the future,” said Kianna Scott, CEO of SmarterHelp. “Through our partnership with the BNYDC, we’re opening the doors to well-paying EV careers for New Yorkers who need them most.”
“By making this program part-time, accessible, and rooted in a growing industry, we’re ensuring that NYC is expanding clean energy capacity while simultaneously creating lasting economic mobility for New Yorkers who have too often been shut out of the promise of a good job,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su.
