Boston Green Jobs Get Support

Posted on December 10, 2008

Boston green jobs are on the rise.

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino recently awarded a contract to the Asian American Civic Association to run a training program that will prepare Boston residents for green collar jobs. AACA, with the Asian Community Development Corporation, plans to run a Facilities Maintenance Energy Efficiency training program that will train 28 people. The City will fund the program with a $125,000 grant.

AACA has already lined up some employer partners, including: CJ/CMJ Management Company; Cornu Management Company; Maloney Properties; Winn Residential; the Lenox Hotel and the Hilton Back Bay Hotel. These employers have helped with the development of the training curriculum, and have agreed to interview all program graduates and hire them as vacancies allow.

“To combat climate change and meet future energy challenges, our region and the nation will need hundreds of thousands of green-collar workers,” Menino said in a press release. “Despite the downturn in the economy, the city needs to be ahead of the curve and prepare residents now for the next wave of jobs, many of which will be generated by new technologies created in a green economy.”

In June, Menino issued a Request for Concept Papers to seek proposals that would boost the skills of local residents so they are ready to participate in the emerging green technology industries. At that time, the city set aside $250,000 in funds from the Neighborhood Jobs Trust to fund the programs. Since then, Boston Connects, Inc. has joined the effort by providing $100,000. The city has identified several other green jobs training programs, which are currently in development, and will use the additional funds to operate those in 2009.

“Today’s announcement is the beginning of implementing our vision of greening Boston’s job training portfolio,” Menino added. “When the economy improves, green jobs are going to be the most in demand jobs. We don’t want our residents left behind – it is imperative that we make sure Bostonians have the skills and the training needed to do these jobs so they will be the most competitive job applicants.”