The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a $500,000 grant to Groundwork Richmond. This funding is part of the Brownfields Job Training Program aimed at recruiting, training, and placing workers in community revitalization and cleanup projects at brownfield sites in Richmond, Virginia.
Adam Ortiz, EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator, stated: “Thanks to President Biden’s unwavering commitment to historically overburdened communities, EPA is investing $1.4 million in Brownfields Job Training grants in the Mid-Atlantic Region. These grants are changing lives and improving communities, as well as making a generational impact.”
The program is supported by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and focuses on economic opportunity and environmental justice. Groundwork plans to train 64 students and place 35 in environmental jobs.
Rob Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Groundwork Richmond Virginia, expressed enthusiasm about the grant: "Groundwork RVA is absolutely thrilled to have been selected from the Mid-Atlantic Region as a Brownfields Job Training Grant Recipient.” He emphasized their commitment to providing high-quality training in Green Stormwater Management and other remediation skills.
The Brownfields Job Training Program funds organizations that aim to build a skilled workforce for assessing and cleaning up brownfield sites. Participants often come from underserved neighborhoods affected by environmental justice issues. Graduates receive certifications that enhance their employability for long-term careers rather than temporary work.
Certifications include lead and asbestos abatement, hazardous waste operations, mold remediation, environmental sampling and analysis, among others.
This initiative follows President Biden's leadership through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which invests over $1.5 billion into the EPA's Brownfields Program. Since its inception in 1998, more than 23,400 individuals have completed training through this program with over 17,400 securing careers related to land remediation and environmental health.
For further details on Brownfields Job Training grants or other funding types offered by the EPA, interested parties can visit their official website or submit inquiries directly.
