WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today Labor Secretary Hilda Solis issued hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of grants to California-based organizations to fund “green job training” programs with funds authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act). Two of those programs are based in California’s 31st Congressional District in Los Angeles, represented by Congressman Xavier Becerra, Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus.

“Green energy and constructions jobs are exactly what we need in Los Angeles and around the country to get folks back to work and grow this emerging sector of our economy,” Rep. Becerra said. “These are good jobs, sustainable jobs that will supply promising careers to those who are ready. But we must provide training opportunities to equip those who are looking for work for these jobs of the future. I’m pleased to see these opportunities coming to some of the most hard-hit parts of my district.”

The Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD) and Women In Non Traditional Employment Roles (WINTER), both located in South Los Angeles, will each receive $100,000 grants through the Recovery Act to train local residents for green construction, energy efficiency, and weatherization jobs.

In partnership with L.A. Trade Technical College (LATTC), Sempra Energy and the California Public Utility Commission, CRCD will expand South L.A.’s existing YouthBuild Program to establish the “Green Jobs Training Initiative.” The project team will develop a dynamic curriculum to include green construction, energy efficiency, and weatherization and provide professional development to faculty members. Additionally, a Green Jobs Pathway will be implemented to serve as a career ladder to help YouthBuild graduates transition into various green construction certificates or degree programs.

WINTER will expand its current pre-apprenticeship job training curriculum to train and place low-income women in green building careers.The project will create the “Wintergreen Careers for Women” advisory committee to inform future efforts. Approximately 124 women are expected to be trained and placed in green building careers. The program will continue to provide this training to a minimum of a hundred women per year for five years as a result of this grant.

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