Nineteen students recently graduated from the Green for Greene program, an initiative facilitated by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The ceremony took place at the Ozark Correctional Center near Springfield, Missouri, and was attended by EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister.
Green for Greene is an environmental job training program that has trained 170 students since its inception in 2017. It is funded through the EPA’s Brownfields Job Training program with support from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. “Support from EPA’s Brownfields Job Training Grants allows programs like Green for Greene to succeed,” said McCollister. “This program is not just a training course. It’s a transformative experience that equips individuals with skills for a brighter future, while directly making a positive impact on both their community and the environment.”
In January 2023, Springfield received a $500,000 Brownfields Job Training Grant to expand this program. The funding provides free instruction and certifications in environmental fields such as hazardous waste management, lead and mold abatement, lead renovation, repair and painting, and asbestos abatement.
The Green for Greene program is tuition-free and targets unemployed or underemployed Springfield residents, veterans, and individuals involved with the justice system. Notably, it is offered exclusively at the Ozark Correctional Center among state prisons.
EPA's Brownfields Job Training Grants are designed to help nonprofits and local governments train residents of areas affected by brownfield sites in sustainable employment related to hazardous waste management. These programs aim to reduce environmental contamination while providing long-term career opportunities.
Since 1998, over 23,460 individuals have completed training through these grants, with more than 17,450 securing careers in land remediation and environmental health and safety.
For further details on Brownfields Job Training Grant recipients or past grant recipients, information can be found on the Brownfields Grant Fact Sheet Search page.
