WorkForce West Virginia Receives $6 million Green Grant for Work Force Training 

WorkForce West Virginia officials are pleased to announce that the agency has received a $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to support the state’s efforts to provide “green-jobs” education and training.

West Virginia’s education and training providers will receive targeted green training and professional development to assist them in providing technical skill courses for people in existing programs or for those who are starting a program.

“Funding from this grant is important to helping our businesses and community and technical colleges prepare our work force for new and existing energy-efficient jobs,” said Gov. Joe Manchin.

Over the three-year grant period, WorkForce West Virginia expects to serve 2,186 people. Success will be monitored through completed training and the participants’ ability to establish or maintain employment. 

The grant will support four major initiatives:

• Green training for current, future and unemployed workers in building, construction, retrofitting and installation occupations;
• The development of a new community college GREEN-UP certificate program, a new wind-energy technology program at Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College, and new water and wastewater treatment programs at Marshall Community and Technical College;
• The development and implementation of community and technical college courses that teach basic and green technical skills in combination, as well as green entrepreneurship for those interested in starting green businesses; and
• Professional development for faculty of career centers, registered apprenticeship programs and community and technical colleges that will help them incorporate green concepts and skills into classes and programs.

 “This green grant is significant in helping West Virginia build a green economy for the 21^st century,” said Russell Fry, acting executive director, WorkForce West Virginia.

The West Virginia GREEN-UP Council along with five regional teams will coordinate grant activities. 

The GREEN-UP Council, which consists of representatives from business, organized labor, nonprofit organizations, research firms, economic development, education providers and other groups, developed the green jobs education and training plan that helped obtain the $6 million grant. 

The green jobs plan seeks to build on the state energy plan, which sets a goal of complete energy independence by 2030 and identifies green-energy production and efficiency as keys to achieving that goal.

“Thanks to Director Fry and his staff, West Virginia’s community and technical colleges have a wonderful opportunity to reach more students interested in green-energy careers or just wanting to “green up” their current skills,” said West Virginia Community and Technical Chancellor, James L. Skidmore.

WorkForce West Virginia is a network of work force development services designed to provide West Virginia's citizens and employers the opportunity to succeed in today’s competitive global economy. For more information, visit www.workforcewv.org or call toll free 1-800-252-JOBS (5627).

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