On September 4, the Pittsburgh-based Green Building Alliance announced it has received a three-year, $1.48 million US Department of Labor grant to launch its Green Pathways Workforce Initiative to develop training and education programs to support critical green building and clean energy employment needs in southwestern Pennsylvania.

GBA’s award is one of $49 million in grant awards announced by the DOL, in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission, Green Building AllianceDelta Regional Authority and the Northern Border Regional Commission to prepare workers for good-quality, secure jobs in high-demand industries in their communities.

“With this investment, we’re not just creating good-paying jobs in rural areas across the country, we’re breaking down barriers that have held back our communities for too long,” said Acting US Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “By providing access to childcare, training and support services, we’re building an opportunity infrastructure to help people thrive where they call home. This is about more than just economic growth; it’s about ensuring that every American has the opportunity to succeed, no matter where they live.”

Green Pathways Initiative

The Green Pathways Initiative will engage with rural communities in Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties, and provide workers and students with training, credentials, and knowledge to pursue well-paying jobs in the rapidly growing green building design, operations, services and construction sectors.

GBA will partner with regional trade unions, workforce development boards, private employers, PA CareerLink Agencies, high schools, technical institutes, and community and technical colleges to:

-- Conduct green building trades training seminars for new entrant and incumbent workers. Seminars will cover energy efficient building operations, facilitate clean energy career exploration, and highlight the growing demand for green building and sustainability skills emerging in the region.

-- Present industry-recognized upskilling programs and stackable credentials such as the Green Professional Training (GPRO) Operations & Maintenance course and U.S. Green Building Council LEED [Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design] Green Associate training, in the rural project area.

Curriculum will help students and workers develop in-demand “green skills” that position them to enter the clean energy workforce or enhance their current position.

In addition to LEED, programs may involve Living Future Accreditation, WELL [building] Accredited Professional credentials, Just Communities Accredited Practitioner (AP) credentials, BPI Certified Professional, and other sustainable construction and building performance enhancement credentials and skills.

Coordinate and host youth workforce training seminars and high school educational conferences to increase environmental literacy and exposure to green building, sustainability and clean energy careers.

Seminar and conference curriculum will provide foundational green skills workforce training, foster interest in the green construction industry, and prepare youth for a sustainable future.

According to the 2023 Energy Efficiency Workforce Needs Report from the Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania will require a significant growth in efficiency and electrification employment to meet increasing demand, with an estimated 2,000+ Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVAC/R) Mechanics and Installers needed every year for the next 10 years – nearly four and half times the current average rate of employees entering the efficiency workforce each year.

“With demand for green building skills rising, the Department of Labor WORC grant will enable GBA to improve career mobility for rural workers by equipping them with the expertise and credentials that employers actively seek and prepare them to achieve economic mobility,” says GBA CEO Jenna Cramer. “Our Green Pathways Initiative will also include workforce training seminars in green building foundational skills for youth, and our high school educational conferences will support equitable transitions to clean energy employment and introduce well-paying, in demand sustainable building industry career opportunities to students.”

A recent Federal Reserve report shows that individuals in rural Pennsylvania and other states face higher barriers to employment than other workers in the state. These include a lack of reliable transportation options, poor internet access, and lack of affordable childcare.

These types of barriers can prevent workers from accessing the training and education opportunities required to enter the clean energy and green building workforce.

To address these challenges, GBA will partner with regional and local organizations to conduct outreach and engagement with marginalized rural communities.

Partners will include Southwest Corner Workforce Development Board (serving Beaver, Washington, and Greene Counties), Southwest Training Services, Inc. (serving Washington and Greene Counties), Westmoreland Fayette Workforce Investment Board, and Intermediate Unit 1 (serving Fayette, Greene, and Washington Counties), as well as trade unions, community and technical colleges, and private employers.

“The Green Pathways Initiative builds on GBA’s three decades of expertise in green building training and education, enabling us to broaden our reach and impact into rural areas across southwestern Pennsylvania,” says GBA Vice President of Education & Communications Leslie Montgomery. “Our upskilling and credentialing programs will expand the great work of partners across the six-county region, all of whom have a track record of success working in their communities. We look forward to collaborating with our partners as well as with private employers to grow economic mobility for workers, and we are excited to inspire the next generation to recognize the wealth of career opportunities in the green building and clean energy sectors.”

To ensure equitable access to workforce training seminars and high school educational conferences, a portion of grant funding will be used to cover transportation costs for students and youth.

Southwestern Pennsylvania’s regional MEP Center, Catalyst Connection, is also among the WORC grant recipients and will receive $1.5 million in funding.

The Just Transition Fund provided support to GBA for development and submission of its Dept. of Labor WORC grant application.

Read the full US Department of Labor WORC grant release here.

For more information on the Green Pathways Initiative, reach out to Green Building Alliance at info@gbapgh.org.

For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the Green Building Alliance website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Alliance, Like them on Facebook, Follow them on Twitter and visit their YouTube Channel.  Click Here to support their work.

NewsClip:

-- Post-Gazette: Green Building Alliance, Catalyst Connection Receive Multi-Million Dollar Grants To Connect Rural Areas With Job Opportunities

[Posted: September 4, 2024]

9/9/2024