On December 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Eco Ed Impact Corp has been awarded a $500,000 grant. This funding aims to support the recruitment, training, and placement of workers involved in community revitalization and cleanup projects at brownfield sites in the Miami metro area. The Brownfields Job Training Program grants are financed by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which seeks to advance economic opportunity and environmental justice.
Eco Ed Impact Corp plans to train 80 students and place 45 in environmental jobs through a program offering 148 hours of instructional training. Participants will earn up to two state and four federal certifications upon completion. The organization targets unemployed, underemployed, economically underserved adults, and veterans in Hallandale Beach, West Park, Miami Gardens, and Dania Beach within the Miami Metropolitan Area. Partners for this initiative include Ecosystem Service Staffing, EnSafe Inc., the Family Government Agency, Friends of the Dania Beach Paul DeMaio Library, Miami-Dade County Community Emergency Response Team, SCS Engineers, South Florida Regional Planning Council, State Representative Marie Woodson, and Sustainable Workforce Alliance.
“We are excited to announce this grant award to Eco Ed Impact Corp,” said acting Administrator of EPA’s Southeast Regional Office Jeaneanne Gettle. “This impactful program...is especially needed in communities that have been historically underserved or overburdened by pollution.”
U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz stated: “We make our families safer by working to ensure places near where they live...is not riddled with contamination.” She expressed pride in supporting The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as it contributes significantly to addressing legacy pollution.
Alexandra Hughes from Eco Ed Impact Corp highlighted that through the Brownfields Job Training (BJT) program: “participants will gain certifications that open doors to higher-paying jobs...By equipping individuals with tools for economic advancement...we aim to create lasting impacts.”
The EPA's Brownfields Job Training Program funds organizations creating skilled workforces in areas preparing brownfield sites for reuse activities. It focuses on historically underserved neighborhoods affected by environmental justice issues. All FY25 Brownfields Job Training Program applications plan to work in disadvantaged communities as defined by the Climate & Economic Justice Screening Tool.
Graduates from this program acquire various certifications enhancing their employability for long-term careers beyond temporary contracts. Certifications include lead and asbestos abatement; hazardous waste operations; mold remediation; environmental sampling; analysis; among others.
President Biden's leadership led to historic investments in U.S brownfields infrastructure via BIL investing more than $1.5 billion through EPA’s successful Brownfields Program enabling funding expansion across states/tribal nations boosting job creation/community revitalization efforts surrounding these sites.
Since its inception back in 1998 till now—EPA has awarded numerous grants totaling over millions enabling thousands receiving training/placement into land remediation/environmental health/safety-related careers boasting impressive starting wages averaging around $23/hourly recently recorded within past years' statistics reflecting impactful results achieved so far...
For more details about selected grant recipients including historical data—visit EPA’s Grant Factsheet Tool online platform alongside exploring other available types-funding options provided via official website links shared hereinabove regarding related initiatives undertaken nationally/globally towards sustainable development goals pursued collectively worldwide today!
