The Biden-Harris administration has announced an investment of nearly $7.7 million in workforce training grants, focusing on underserved and overburdened communities. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed the selection of 16 organizations to receive these grants aimed at environmental job training programs nationwide. Funded by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the EPA's Brownfields Job Training Program grants will assist in recruiting, training, and placing workers for community revitalization and brownfield cleanup projects, promoting economic opportunities and environmental justice.
Cliff Villa, Deputy Assistant Administrator for the EPA’s Office of Land and Emergency Management, is set to announce the awards today in Wichita, Kansas. He will be joined by Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas, a grant recipient; Meg McCollister, EPA Region 7 Administrator; and Brandon Johnson from the Wichita City Council.
“Las subvenciones de Capacitación Laboral de Brownfields de la EPA están cambiando vidas y mejorando comunidades que han estado sobrecargadas por propiedades contaminadas durante demasiado tiempo,” said Cliff Villa. “Gracias a la agenda Invertir en Estados Unidos del presidente Biden, la EPA está ayudando a crear empleos bien remunerados para los residentes de bajos ingresos, desempleados y subempleados que están ayudando a que sus comunidades sean más limpias, saludables y fuertes.”
Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas will provide training in key areas such as asbestos abatement, commercial driver's license acquisition for hazardous waste transport, RCRA hazardous waste management, and OSHA 30-hour general industry occupational health and safety. This comprehensive training aims to equip students with essential skills to address critical environmental issues within their local communities.
Each job training grant provides up to $500,000 to organizations working to create a skilled workforce in communities where brownfield assessment, cleanup, and preparation activities are underway. Participants often overcome various employment barriers and come from historically underserved neighborhoods or areas affected by environmental justice issues.
Selected applicants have proposed working in disadvantaged areas according to the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. This aligns with President Biden's Justice40 Initiative to deliver 40% of overall benefits from certain federal investments to marginalized communities burdened by pollution.
Graduates typically earn certifications that enhance employability in long-term environmental careers rather than temporary contract work. Certifications include lead and asbestos abatement; hazardous waste operations and emergency response; mold remediation; environmental sampling and analysis; among others.
Today's selected recipients include Groundwork Rhode Island (Pawtucket), Worcester City (Worcester), Groundwork Elizabeth (Elizabeth), Montclair State University (Montclair), Center for Nonprofit Advancement (Washington D.C.), Groundwork Richmond Virginia (Richmond), Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Blacksburg), Eco Ed Impact Corp (Miami), Southwest Economic Solutions (Detroit), Iowa Western Community College (Council Bluffs), Saint Louis University (St. Louis), Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas (Wichita), Groundwork Denver (Denver), NyE Communities Coalition (Pahrump), Pocatello City (Pocatello), Tribal Solid Waste Advisory Network (Tekoa).
For more information on selected Brownfields Job Training Grant recipients or past grantees visit the EPA Grants Fact Sheet tool.
President Biden's leadership alongside bipartisan Congressional action led to this significant infrastructure investment through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investing over $1.5 billion via the successful EPA Brownfields Program. This budget increase allows funding for more communities while offering larger grants for enhancing job training plans supporting job creation around brownfields revitalization activities.
Since 1998 over $113 million has been awarded through 430 grants under Brownfields Job Training Programs with over 23,400 individuals completing training resulting in more than 17,400 being placed into land remediation-related careers with an average starting wage around $23 per hour over recent years.
For organizations considering applying or seeking technical assistance related inquiries regarding Brownfields Job Training Grants submit requests directly through EPA channels.
Learn more about Brownfields Grants on the official website.