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Small businesses are the engine of our economy, employing half of all workers in America and creating two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. And as this economy recovers and small businesses rebound — they're helping revive communities across the country.

Many community colleges, universities, utilities and manufacturers across America are taking smart, pragmatic steps to train the next generation of workers needed to modernize the nation’s electric grid.

A manufacturer of crystalline solar cells recently opened a new manufacturing facility for the assembly of solar panels by plant staff and robots in Milwaukee. This project is a result of Recovery Act funds from the Energy Department’s State Energy Program (SEP).

While Energy Department researchers work to help reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and produce energy in safer, more efficient ways, we know we can’t do it alone. In order to effectively transition to cleaner, safer forms of fuel, we need help from the private sector -- which is where ARPA-E (and companies like Agrivida) come into the picture.

We checked back in with Bill Picciano, who we last spoke to in October 2009 after he'd recently been hired at the Savannah River Site (SRS) through the Recovery Act. Now he's permanently employed at the Site as an Associate Engineer/Technical Support Specialist - a job he's proud to have.

Brian Andrews leveraged training programs to transition from being a meter reader at CenterPoint Energy in Houston, Texas to implementing the company’s smart meter and intelligent electric grid projects.

One of the country's leading experts on private sector investment in clean energy, Richard Kauffman is joining the Energy Department as a Senior Advisor. It's also his first in the public sector – a fact that humbles Kauffman: “For me this is my opportunity to serve. My hope is that I will bring capabilities and experience that are complementary to the great talent that is already here.”

Gary Miklethun, the owner of Narrows Electric, a small electrical contractor in Gig Harbor, Wash., that specializes in residential and small commercial projects, definitely felt it when the economy slowed down. But installing new smart grid technology in 500 homes not only gave his team new work, but new customers.

Like too many Americans, when the recession hit Annette Herrera found herself without a job. For two and a half years she worked the phones and culled the classifieds, searching for an opportunity to work and earn a paycheck.

“Really anyone who likes science or math, we’ve probably got a job for you,” said Justin Johnson, Senior Director of Engineering at Oncor, one of the country’s largest transmission and distribution utilities based in Dallas, Texas. Find out more about the exciting career opportunities smart grid technology is offering.

Read about Power4Vets -- a program funded by Recovery Act money through the Energy Department’s Smart Grid Workforce Training program, which is helping to prepare the next generation of workers in the utility and electric industries for smart grid-related jobs.

Bob Wilds puts his years of experience to the test as he trains the new coil winders in Wisconsin.