| To transition to a greener economy with green | | | | progress quickly. |
| careers, local level participation and collaboration is vital. | | | | The three favored job categories are green jobs, |
| According to the U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, | | | | emergency services, and jobs within the health field. |
| just throwing jobs out there does not get anything | | | | The job training programs specifically authorized within |
| done; a mix of services must be provided to make | | | | the Recovery Act that will help prepare Americans for |
| sure that there is a workforce prepared to take on | | | | jobs in renewable energy, environmental protection, |
| these jobs. Therefore, it is important to consider the | | | | and green building trades are AmeriCorps State and |
| local level when developing green careers to fuel the | | | | National Recover Act Assistance, Department of |
| green economy. | | | | Labor Employment and Family Services Job Corps |
| The U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and other | | | | Centers, Department of Labor Workforce Investment |
| authors of the Green Jobs Act of 2007 have | | | | Act, and the Housing and Urban Development Tribal |
| acknowledged that for effective use of the monies | | | | Governments. AmeriCorps current grantees are eligible |
| from the Stimulus Package and the Green Jobs Act | | | | to apply for additional funding. The AmeriCorps |
| local level coordination is crucial. This includes | | | | personnel scope includes construction and rehabilitation |
| assessment of need, training curriculum of those | | | | of housing and other buildings. Fifteen percent of the |
| coming in new to green technologies, assessment of | | | | $250 million dollars allotted for the Dept. of Labor |
| readiness for individual candidates, job openings | | | | Employment and Family Services Job Corps Centers |
| awaiting the trained candidates, social services to | | | | can be used towards training programs for careers in |
| enable these workers to connect to transportation, | | | | renewable energy, energy efficiency, and |
| child care, and other resources needed to make the | | | | environmental protection. Additionally, funding made |
| work experience and transition successful. Local | | | | available through the Green Jobs Recovery Act may |
| agencies who applied for money under the Green | | | | be continued. Almost $4 billion dollars has been |
| Jobs Act had more success when they could | | | | earmarked for the Workforce Investment Act which |
| demonstrate coordinated group participation in the | | | | provides training and employment services to youth, |
| process of building green careers among many of the | | | | displaced workers, and older adults. Money has also |
| stake holders. This carries over to the coordinated | | | | been set aside to train tribal members in skills |
| Stimulus Package funding which provides funding | | | | associated in building trades such as pipe-fitting and |
| extension to many existing national and state job | | | | plumbing through the Housing and Urban Development |
| training and job readiness programs to supply the | | | | Tribal Governments Act. |
| green economy with the skilled workforce need to | | | | |