U.S. Department of Labor announces nearly $190 million in State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grants for green jobs

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Jan 20, 2010, 01:03 ET

Department's 2010 investment in green jobs edges toward $440 million mark in 3 weeks

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced nearly $190 million in green jobs training grants, as authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grants are designed to teach workers the skills required in emerging industries, including energy efficiency and renewable energy. This set of green grants is the third awarded in as many weeks by the U.S. Department of Labor. Less than a month into 2010, the department's investment in this growing area of the job marketplace is close to the $440 million mark.

"These grants will help workers gain access to good jobs, while supporting the sort of statewide energy efficiency strategies that play a crucial role in building the green economy of the 21^st century," said Secretary Solis.

Thirty-four awards ranging from approximately $2 million to $6 million each are being made to state workforce investment boards in partnership with their state workforce agencies, local workforce investment boards or regional consortia of boards, and One-Stop Career Center delivery systems. Through the grant awards announced today, program participants will receive the technical and occupational skills necessary to obtain industry recognized credentials.

These grants are designed to achieve the following goals:

Create an integrated system of education, training and supportive services that promotes skill attainment and career pathway development for low-income, low-skilled workers leading to employment in green industries.
Support states in implementing a statewide energy sector strategy including governors' overall workforce visions, state energy policies and training activities that lead to employment in targeted industry sectors.
Build and strengthen partnerships dedicated to building a skilled clean energy workforce.
Develop new partnerships with other agencies receiving Recovery Act funds to support strategic planning and implementation efforts.

Today's grants are part of a larger Recovery Act initiative — totaling $500 million — to fund workforce development projects that promote economic growth by preparing workers for careers in the energy efficiency industries. For a full listing of the grants and project descriptions, visit http://www.doleta.gov/pdf/SESP_Summaries.pdf. To view a video by Secretary Solis, visit http://www.dol.gov/dol/media/webcast/energysector.

To find out more about job training opportunities available through the Department of Labor, call the National Contact Center's toll-free helpline at: 866-4-USA-DOL (487-2365) or TTY 877-889-5627.

Editor's Note: Charts reflecting the grantees announced today follow this news release.

State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grants


Grant Recipient	state	AUTO- IMPACTED COUNTIES SERVED	Award AMOUNT	PARTICIPANTS Served
Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA)	Alabama	Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Lowndes, Butler, Madison, Limestone and Marshall	$6,000,000	Veterans, at-risk youth, ex-offenders, dislocated workers, incumbent workers, low-income workers and disadvantaged individuals
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development	Alaska	N/A	$3,600,000	Minorities, recipients of public assistance, veterans, people with disabilities, low-income individuals, unemployed and underemployed individuals, dislocated workers, out-of-school youth and incumbent workers
Arizona Department of Economic Security	Arizona	N/A	$5,000,000	Dislocated workers, underemployed workers, veterans, incumbent workers, at-risk youth, individuals with criminal records and individuals with disabilities
Arkansas Workforce Investment Board/Department of Workforce Services	Arkansas	Cleburne, Desha, Greene and Logan	$4,866,479	High school dropouts, offenders, unemployed workers, and other disadvantaged, at-risk individuals
State of California Employment Development Department	California	Alameda and Los Angeles	$6,000,000	Dislocated workers, veterans, unemployed and underemployed workers, low-income youth and adults, new workforce entrants, individuals with disabilities and individuals with criminal records

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment	Colorado	N/A	$5,998,050	Older workers, dislocated workers, incumbent workers, veterans, women, individuals with disabilities, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients, dislocated workers and ex-offenders
Connecticut Employment and Training Commission	Connecticut	N/A	$3,360, 000	Incumbent workers, unemployed workers, veterans, at-risk youth, ex-offenders, underrepresented ethnic minorities and recent immigrants
Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations	Hawaii	N/A	$6,000,000	Incumbent workers, low-income/low-skilled individuals, disadvantaged persons with limited English proficiency, people with disabilities and veterans
Idaho Department of Labor	Idaho	N/A	$5,991,184	Veterans, dislocated workers, low-skill adults and youth, and other targeted populations

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Illinois	Boone, Cook and McLean	$6,000,000	Low-skilled individuals, new labor market entrants, dislocated workers, incumbent workers, underemployed individuals, veterans, minority contractors, disadvantaged adults and youth, individuals with disabilities and individuals with criminal records
Indiana Department of Workforce Development	Indiana	45 counties – for a list, see http://www.doleta.gov/grants/pdf/Amend-01-SGA-DFA-PY-08-20.pdf	$6,000,000	Incumbent and dislocated workers, unemployed workers, adults with barrier to employment, and out-of-school youth
Iowa Workforce Development	Iowa	Cass, Chickasaw, Fremont, Howard, Iowa, Louisa, Plymouth, Poweshiek, Union and Wright	$5,997,000	Dislocated workers, unemployed individuals and incumbent workers
Kansas Department of Commerce	Kansas	Allen	$5,999, 890	Dislocated workers, incumbent workers, veterans, older youth, former prisoners and individuals seeking career pathways out of poverty
Education and Workforce Development Cabinet	Kentucky	Cumberland, Fulton, Hopkins, Pulaski and Trigg	$4,740,457	Dislocated workers, unemployed individuals, out-of-school youth and veterans

Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation	Maryland	N/A	$5,793,183	Incumbent and dislocated workers, veterans and reservists, low-wage workers and individuals with criminal records
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development	Massachusetts	N/A	$5,973,657	Unemployed, underemployed and incumbent workers
Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, & Economic Growth	Michigan	Midland, Saginaw, Genesee, Bay, Roscommon, Losco, Livingston, Monroe, Wayne, Clair, Macomb and Oakland	$5,819,999	Dislocated workers and incumbent workers
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development	Minnesota	Clearwater and Ramsey	$6,000,000	Unemployed workers, incumbent workers, individuals with limited English proficiency, low-income individuals, individuals with disabilities, individuals with criminal records, high school dropouts, youth, dislocated workers, veterans and minority populations

Missouri Division of Workforce Development	Missouri	St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Lincoln County, Clay County and Randolph County	$6,000,000	Veterans and active duty military personnel, incumbent workers and unemployed workers
Nebraska Department of Labor	Nebraska	Dawson	$4,839,511	Workers impacted by energy policy, incumbent workers, veterans, unemployed individuals, at-risk youth and individuals with criminal records
Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation	Nevada	N/A	$6,000,000	Dislocated workers, individuals with criminal records, individuals with disabilities, individuals who are homeless, veterans, former foster youth, young pregnant and single mothers, individuals receiving public assistance and other low-income individuals
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development	New Jersey	Middlesex and Union	$6,000,000	Out-of school youth, adults with limited basic skills, individuals with criminal histories and individuals with disabilities
New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions	New Mexico	N/A	$5,999,989	Incumbent workers, unemployed workers, women, veterans, military spouses and high school dropouts

North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Development	North Carolina	Scotland	$5,976,512	Unemployed workers, military spouses, veterans, at-risk youth, individuals with criminal records, farmers, and migrant and seasonal workers
State of Ohio	Ohio	44 counties – for a list see http://www.doleta.gov/grants/pdf/Amend-01-SGA-DFA-PY-08-20.pdf	$6,000,000	Dislocated workers, veterans, women, minorities and Appalachian residents
State of Oklahoma	Oklahoma	Oklahoma and Marshall	$6,000,000	Unemployed workers and incumbent workers
State of Oregon	Oregon	N/A	$5,383,568	Unemployed workers and incumbent workers
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Labor & Industry	Pennsylvania	Allegheny and Tioga	$6,000,000	Dislocated workers, youth and high school dropouts, individuals with disabilities, veterans and individuals with limited English proficiency
South Dakota Department of Labor	South Dakota	N/A	$2,500,000	Veterans, dislocated workers, unemployed individuals, and individuals with a criminal record

Utah Department of Workforce Services	Utah	Box Elder	$4,600,000	Dislocated workers, disadvantaged youth and veterans
Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board	Washington	N/A	$5,973,635	Dislocated workers, incumbent workers, at-risk youth, low-income adults, individuals with disabilities and veterans
WorkForce West Virginia	West Virginia	Putnam	$6,000,000	Veterans, unemployed workers and individuals with criminal records
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development	Wisconsin	Kenosha and Rock	$6,000,000	Veterans, dislocated workers impacted by auto industry restructuring, individuals who are currently employed in the targeted trades and in need of updated green building or green manufacturing skills training, recipients of public assistance and other low-income individuals
Wyoming Workforce Development Council	Wyoming	N/A	$4,495,704	Unemployed individuals, tribal members, individuals with criminal records, veterans, at-risk youth and dislocated workers

U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit http://www.dol.gov/compliance.

SOURCE U.S. Department of Labor