References Funding Sources Federal Government
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Federal Government U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Job Development and Training grants prepare trainees for future employment in the environmental field and facilitate cleanup of Brownfields sites contaminated with hazardous substances and a variety of other pollutants including petroleum products. Most of the initial grantees received their primary start-up
Training grants (http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicat.htm#jt), to be eligible for the grant, applicants must be located within or near a community that has been funded by EPA for National Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and/or Cleanup grants. These grants are part of the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act to help states and communities around the country clean up and revitalize brownfields sites. Job Development and Training programs should be linked to/partner with a federal Brownfields Assessment or Cleanup Grant.
The Department of Labor (DOL) has extensive funding and many programs associated with employment and upgrading of the nation's workforce. Many of the programs are relevant to Brownfields Job Development and Training. It is important, however, to learn how these programs and funding streams operate. In most cases, programs and funds are given to state and local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs). Refer to State and Local Government.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) has provided support for the establishment of the NIEHS/EPA Brownfields Minority Worker Training Program (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/) as part of the Department of Health and Human Services commitment to the Brownfields National Partnership Agenda. The training program is funded through an interagency agreement with EPA. This program broadens the Minority Worker Training Program to provide comprehensive training of disadvantaged residents in communities impacted by brownfields in order to foster economic and environmental restoration of their communities. NIEHS awards are made to nonprofit organizations with a demonstrated track record of providing occupational safety and health education.
Some of the Brownfields Job Development and Training grantees have received funding from both the EPA and NIEHS. For example, JFYNetWorks' Environmental Technology Training Program (http://www.jfyboston.org/) and OAI, Inc. (http://www.oaiinc.org/) are funded by the EPA and NIEHS. Although the EPA and NIEHS have different eligibility requirements for students to participate, they can be combined in the same job training program.
AmeriCorps: Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) (http://www.americorps.gov/home/site_map/index.asp) is a network of national service programs that engage more than 50,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. Created in 1993, AmeriCorps is part of the Corporation for National and Community Service. AmeriCorps has three programs, one of which is AmeriCorps VISTA. VISTA members serve full-time for a year in nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and faith-based groups throughout the country. In fiscal year 2001, approximately 6,000 AmeriCorps VISTA members served in 1,200 local programs.
Civic Works (http://www.civicworks.com), a youth service corps program in Baltimore, Maryland, was awarded an EPA Brownfields Job Development and Training grant in October of 2001. Civic Works developed a full-time, seven-week job training and placement assistance program that prepares trainees for entry-level positions in environmental technology. With funding from the EPA grant, Civic Works hired a project coordinator through AmeriCorps VISTA. The VISTA volunteer received a living allowance of $9,900 dollars to work 35 hours per week for one year to run the daily operations of the job training program. AmeriCorps provided health insurance and a $4,500 educational award to the VISTA volunteer. The educational award can be used for college or vocational school.
AmeriCorps also has a Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) that is part of Senior Corps (http://www.seniorcorps.gov/home/site_map/index.asp), a network of national service programs that provides older Americans the opportunity to apply their life experience to meeting community needs. RSVP volunteers serve in a diverse range of nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and faith-based groups.
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (http://www.hud.gov/), Health and Human Services (HHS) (http://www.hhs.gov/), Veteran's Administration (VA) (http://www.va.gov/), and other Federal Agencies These agencies, similar to DOL, provide programs that may be useful to Brownfields Job Development and Training programs. While they occasionally award individual grants, most funds are administered through block grants to states and communities. The final disposition of these funds is the responsibility of state and local governments. |
