The Bullet:

A lot of money ($3.6 million, to be exact) was made available to a variety of organizations to provide training in unspecified environmental disciplines for the unemployed and underemployed in their area.

Who:

United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) made grant money available to 18 grantees nationwide; they are:

• Hunters Point Family; San Francisco, Calif.
• City of Durham, N.C.
• Memphis Bioworks, Tenn.
• City of Milwaukee, Wis.
• Los Angeles Conservation Corps, Calif.
• Cypress Mandela Training Center; Oakland, Calif.
• St. Nicks Alliance; Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Civic Works; Baltimore, Md.
• Community Development Corporation of Tampa, Fla.
• Limitless Vistas; New Orleans, La.
• City of Camden, Ark.
• Energy Coordinating Agency; Philadelphia, Penn.
• Lewis and Clark County, Mont.
• Alaska Forum
• Northstar Center for Human Development; Hartford, Conn.
• City of Detroit, Mich.
• The Workplace, Inc.; Bridgeport, Conn.
• Mo-Kan Regional Council; St. Joseph, Mo.

What:

Grant money to be used to train the unemployed and underemployed on the hazardous waste response (HazWoper) regulations of  the Occupational Health and Safety Administration.

Where:

Nationwide

When:

Announcement made May 12, 2014.

Why:

It is hoped that graduates of the program will go on to private-sector jobs in the “Green Economy”.

How:

Grant money is made available to local/regional organizations that then work with the private sector to provide the training and assist trained individuals with employment.  Read on if you’re interested in Funding Available Through the Workforce Investment Act.

Conclusion:

I’m all for training.  And if grant money is what it takes to get it done, that’s OK too.  Just be sure you get the right training.

Read the USEPA press release.