Congressman Charles Rangel said a recent $4.6 million federal grant to provide training for "green collar" jobs presents a monumental opportunity for Upper Manhattan.
"This award targets those struggling to get and retain a job, training them for careers that make our homes and neighborhoods cleaner, more energy efficient, and safer," said Congressman Rangel. "To have a true economic recovery we must include the hardest hit populations in job creation, and it's better when those jobs are in careers that will build our economy for the 21st century."
The grant will serve individuals residing in high poverty communities in six U.S. cities, including the New York communities of East Harlem, Central Harlem, and Bronx's Mott Haven/Hunts Point and Melrose/East Tremont, which have poverty rates between 32 and 46 percent. An estimated 500 New York residents would receive training services with an estimated 252 placements in unsubsidized employment.
The grant is part of the U.S. Department of Labor's "Pathways Out of Poverty" program, which supports initiatives that help poor and disadvantaged populations achieve economic self-sufficiency through "green" jobs in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. The program was authorized in the Recovery Act that President Obama signed into law last year.
The awardee is STRIVE, a nationally-recognized Harlem-based organization that works with at-risk populations by providing support and training that lead to livable wage employment and re-integration into society.
Last April, STRIVE attended an economic recovery conference hosted by Congressman Rangel that brought together community stakeholders with federal, state, and local representatives, including Labor Department officials, who highlighted various Recovery Act programs and provided tools to access funding.
"It is so gratifying to see groups like STRIVE be able to take advantage of Congress' efforts to bring economic recovery opportunities to our communities," said Congressman Rangel. "I thank Labor Secretary Hilda Solis for her leadership in ensuring that workforce development programs reach populations that have traditionally faced major barriers to finding jobs."
“To the extent that at-risk communities across the country can now acquire a complex skill set for jobs in high-demand green sectors is, in my experience, a real paradigm shift in workforce development that could not come at a more opportune moment,” said STRIVE National President Rob Carmona.
STRIVE will use the Recovery Act funds to offer training in a variety of high-demand sectors, including green construction, environmental remediation, weatherization for homes and buildings, and solar installation.
The grant will allow STRIVE to build upon its successful New York Green Job Corps, a comprehensive green construction training program for low-skilled individuals. In addition to preparing participants for careers, the program provides training for job readiness and interpersonal skills, GED preparation, and seminars on issues such as renewable energy, environmental justice, and green certification.
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