Rockville, MD. — Goodwill Industries International recently received a $100,000 Green Capacity Grant Award from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. Authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Green Capacity Grant Awards fund training programs that ensure targeted groups are prepared to meet the needs of expanding green industries.
Through six existing Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) locations, Goodwill® currently provides on-the-job training for older workers, ages 55 and older, including veterans, people with disabilities, and others who face challenges to finding employment. The Green Capacity Grant will fund the “Goodwill SCSEP Goes Green” project, an initiative to educate staff at SCSEP locations so that they can expand their programs, readying program participants for employment in two of the nation’s fastest growing sectors: green construction and sustainable agriculture.
“To adapt to the new green economy, workers need to add a whole new set of skills,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “These range from the principles of land management and water conservation techniques to specialized knowledge such as the construction and installation of solar panels.”
The project will work to orient program participants to the new green economy at six existing Goodwill SCSEP locations: Albuquerque, NM; Indianapolis, IN; Fort Washington, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Roanoke, VA; and Tacoma, WA.
“Goodwill has a long record of creating employment opportunities for individuals,” said Gibbons. “The Goodwill SCSEP Goes Green project will help these workers take the next step by finding a foothold in the new green economy.”
