Explanation
1. BACKGROUND:
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to accept a grant in the amount of $49,938.00 from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s Ohio Environmental Education Fund (OEEF) and enter into a Grant Agreement with the State of Ohio, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Environmental Education Fund for the development of a Green Infrastructure Workforce Development Program.
The City is developing a Green Infrastructure Workforce Development Program that has the potential to address poverty and unemployment within the community and promote the development of small, minority and female-owned businesses through creation of green-collared jobs. The Program has developed a training curriculum structured around livable wage jobs that will be created as a result of the City's implementation of green infrastructure. Graduates of the Program will receive a training certificate that will be recognized by the City and will be offered intense placement assistance in securing a green infrastructure maintenance job, be it with the City or a private entity contracted with the City.
The project will train 60 individuals in green infrastructure maintenance in Summer/Fall 2015 and Spring 2016. Training recruitment will occur through the Columbus Urban League's four-week work readiness training program called New Beginnings, which prepares individuals to enter the workforce. New Beginnings provides "soft skills" training through workshops such as Conflict Resolution and more technical training such as Computer Literacy Training will also be provided. The CUL will identify participants from New Beginnings who have an interest in a green infrastructure-related career and two classes of 30 trainees will participate in a 6 week, 12 hours a week Blueprint Workforce Development Training program covering various topics of green infrastructure maintenance. The classroom work will take place at Columbus State Community College and wil...
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