EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin visited the site of a North Philadelphia training center Tuesday where a nearly $200,000 EPA grant to the Energy Coordinating Agency will help train local residents for environmental cleanup jobs.

ECA is one of 18 organizations nationwide selected this year by EPA for the agency’s Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training grants.

“This funding will expand the local workforce needed in Philadelphia to reuse and revitalize contaminated properties,” said EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “EPA is proud to support ECA and its partners in training people for environmental jobs that can help create healthier neighborhoods and contribute to Philadelphia’s vision of a green, sustainable city.”

The nonprofit ECA will train 67 unemployed and underemployed residents of North Philadelphia for environmental careers and cleanup work in their communities. Participants will earn seven federal or state certifications and licenses.

“We are delighted to be able to expand our training in environmental careers, to offer people the credentials they need to land firmly on a career ladder, and help build a more sustainable future,” states Liz Robinson, ECA’s Executive Director.

The training, along with assistance in job placement, puts graduates on track with a set of marketable skills for potential long-term employment and will be conducted at ECA’s Knight Training Center on 106 West Clearfield Street, a nationally accredited center.

The ECA also provides a number of programs that help conserve energy while promoting a sustainable energy future. They are the largest provider of energy and water conservation services for low income residents in the Philadelphia region.

EPA’s job training grant to ECA is the third such grant awarded to a Philadelphia organization. Prior grantees were the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition and Impact Services Corp.

Since the Environmental Workforce Development Job Training program’s inception in 1998, nationally EPA has funded 239 job training grants totaling more than $50 million. More than 12,800 individuals have completed training, and of those, more than 9,100 have secured employment in the environmental field.

For more information, visit EPA’s ECA Grant or Environmental Workforce Development Grants webpages.

6/2/2014