The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 Administrator Daniel Blackman and U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) issued a news release to unveil $1 million in Brownfields job training funds from two Florida-based organizations.
“This Bipartisan Infrastructure Law more than tripled the funding available for Brownfields Job Training Grants annually,” Blackman said.
According to the press release issued June 2, Blackman and Castor also highlighted the availability of approximately $12 million from President Biden's Investing in America Agenda for new environmental job training grants. The EPA is currently accepting applications nationwide for projects that will support environmental job training programs and develop the environmental workforce in underserved communities.
Under the fiscal year 2023 Brownfields job training competition, the Corporation to Develop Communities (CDC) of Tampa and the Sustainable Workplace Alliance each received $500,000.
CDC of Tampa plans to train 200 students and place at least 180 of them in environmental jobs in the Tampa area. The Sustainable Workplace Alliance plans to train 120 students and place at least 76 in environmental jobs in the Kissimmee, Florida, area.
The EPA's Brownfields job training program aims to provide career training opportunities while cleaning up neighborhoods and pollution. Castor emphasized the positive impact on economic opportunities and the need for skilled workers in the Tampa Bay area.
Applications are being sought by the EPA for the fiscal year 2024 Brownfields Job Training Program, with approximately 24 grants expected to be awarded nationwide.
The program focuses on recruiting, training, and retaining a skilled local workforce, particularly in areas impacted by solid and hazardous waste. The goal is to secure sustainable employment in the environmental field, including Brownfields assessment and cleanup.
Since its inception, the program has trained more than 20,600 individuals and placed more than 15,300 in careers related to land remediation and environmental health and safety.
