PSEG met behind closed doors with Bridgeport clergy members on Monday to ensure local jobs as the electric company builds a new plant.

A gas plant is under construction at Bridgeport Harbor Station to replace the old one. The nonprofit, Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport, is looking to make sure city residents get some of the available jobs.

About a dozen people graduated Monday in the first class of the PSEG Ready2Work training program.

The program is designed to prepare minorities, women and veterans from Bridgeport for apprenticeships in the building trades, which can lead to highly skilled, well-paying jobs.

After Monday's meeting with PSEG and local clergy, both sides say progress is being made.

Rick Thigpen, PSEG's vice president of state governmental affairs, says both sides plan to keep talking and that the new plant should be completed by next July.