Economic Development

Ohio, region clinch federal green jobs grants

Friday, January 8, 2010
Business Courier of Cincinnati

Millions of federal stimulus dollars are headed to Ohio through a round of funding aimed at green job-training programs.

The U.S. Department of Labor unveiled details of nearly $100 million in grants through the Energy Training Partnership Grant program. The funding, which will be spread out nationally, is a piece of $500 million set aside through the federal stimulus legislation to train workers for jobs in the green sector.

Of the 25 grants, two are headed to projects exclusively in Ohio, while the state is receiving a piece of three other multi-state grants. The largest grant headed solely to the state is $4.8 million for the Ohio Electrical Labor Management Cooperative Committee. The funding will help workers in dozens of counties around the state through a new training center network dubbed the Ohio Green Renewable Opportunities for Workers. Southwest Ohio counties that will be part of the network include Clermont, Clinton and Hamilton.

A $4 million state-specific grant is headed to the Communications Workers of America and National Education and Training Trust to help dislocated workers and veterans in several counties in northern and Southwest Ohio, including Hamilton County.

Three other multi-state grants totaling nearly $14.7 million are for training efforts in Ohio, which target the northern part of the state.

Click here for a detailed listing of grants awarded nationwide.

Read the full artice here