The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week announced the selection of Goodwill Industries of Conemaugh Valley Inc. to receive a $200,000 brownfields job training grant. Goodwill Industries will train 40 people, providing skills for them to gain employment in the clean up and redevelopment of brownfields.

Goodwill Industries will work in partnership with the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center. Courses will be offered in environmental geology, hazardous site worker training, environmental sampling and monitoring, hazardous materials management, and mobile equipment safety and handling.

The grant was one of 12 grants announced nationally which teach environmental cleanup skills to people living in low income areas near brownfield sites. Since 1998, EPA has awarded $17.3 million in brownfields job training grants. More than 2,600 people have completed the training and over 1,600 have obtained jobs in the environmental field, earning an average wage of $13 per hour.

The Brownfields Job Training Program gives people in brownfields-affected communities skills to obtain employment in the environmental field, so that they benefit from brownfields redevelopment.

12/23/2005