On the same day Vice President Joe Biden was in town to tout the Obama administration’s push for green jobs, Philadelphia took two major steps forward in establishing its own green economy. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation awarded the Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA) a $1.1 million grant to build a green jobs skills training center and established a city-wide green jobs apprenticeship program with a $125,000 grant to the Sustainable Business Network for its “Green Job Corps.”
The grants, announced last week, intend to help hundreds of under-employed workers gain entry-level green-collar job skills, place workers in existing positions and provide workers already in the green economy with advancement opportunities. The Foundation also made a $100,000 grant to the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, a partner in both efforts, to provide job market analysis and develop policies to drive local demand for energy efficiency jobs.
”Through strategic collaborations, investment in best practices, and thoughtful implementation, Philadelphia is taking the lead in the green jobs movement,” said Mayor Michael Nutter.
The ECA’s John S. and James L. Knight Green Jobs Training Center is slated to open this fall and will provide workers with state-of-the-art energy conservation training. The 20,000-square-foot facility will be a hub to be tapped by community colleges, technical schools and employers in the region who need their workers trained in green industry.
The Green Economy Task Force, an alliance of 100 area businesses, environmental groups, workforce development providers and unions, will advise the Green Job Corps’ development.
”Philadelphia is poised to take full advantage of the growing green economy… by lifting Philadelphia out of poverty through training and new jobs,” said Sustainable Business Network Executive Director Leanne Krueger-Braneky.
Source: City of Philadelphia
Writer: Joe Petrucci
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