Green Jobs for Youth - Skills Training Round 2

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is pleased to announce $4,000,000 in funding to support Tribal Organizations and not-for-profit (NFP) community-based organizations that serve Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) and Potential Environmental Justice Areas (PEJA) for projects that will implement a new or existing job training program in green industries targeting young New Yorkers residing in environmental justice communities. This program will help New York State advance the climate equity and just transition goals of New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) by helping to develop a skilled workforce equipped to perform these jobs.

DEC’s mission is to conserve, improve and protect New York's natural resources and environment and to prevent, abate and control water, land, and air pollution, to enhance the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the State and their overall economic and social well-being. DEC’s Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) addresses environmental justice concerns in the environmental permit review process and across other DEC operations. OEJ runs several programs that benefit environmental justice communities and address adverse environmental impacts that exist in those communities.

Project Objectives
Projects should prepare the youth (ages 17-24) of New York to enter the workforce of emerging job opportunities in clean or green industries and provide tangible occupational skills sought by employers. These industries should demonstrate local and industry demand for the skill sets provided by your organization.

Proposals should demonstrate a partnership with employers and that the proposed training will lead to the acquisition of a nationally recognized certification, a skill set certificate, a certificate degree, or a comparable award. Proposals that include these certifications will receive additional points.

Possible green training programs may include, but are not limited to:
• Clean Energy
• Green Buildings
• Transportation
• Waste
• Consumer products
• Climate adaptation
• Policy and advocacy
• Finance and consulting
• Green infrastructure
• Green education and teaching
• Conservation and restoration
• Technology