OPERATION A.B.L.E GETS GRANT TO DEVELOP GREEN JOBS FOR MATURE WORKERS

A.B.L.E. Alumni: 


If you or someone you know who is a Mature Worker is seeking new job opportunities and has an interest in the developing field of "Green" (Ecologically-Sustainable) Technologies, check out Operation A.B.L.E. 's current participation in our nation's Green Jobs Initiative:

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February 15, 2011



Contact:Katherine Mainzer, kmainzer@strategygroupinc.com, 617-263-3344
Loh-Sze Leung, Loh-Sze.Leung@tbf.org, 617-338-4377

OPERATION A.B.L.E GETS GRANT TO DEVELOP GREEN JOBS FOR MATURE WORKERS

 February 9, 2011 (Boston, MA) - SkillWorks, the local funders’ collaborative that has invested over $18 million to date to equip area workers and employers with competitive skills for the 21^stcentury,  today announced the second round of job training awards in the Green Jobs Initiative.  The grants will be used to create pathways to middle-skill jobs in green manufacturing, hazardous waste management, recycling and deconstruction industries in Massachusetts.

“We are pleased to make these awards to support job creation in green industries,” stated Loh-Sze Leung, Director of SkillWorks.  “By working with local businesses and training organizations, we can develop good paying middle skill jobs that are good for the environment.”

The SkillWorks Green Jobs Initiative awarded $10,000 to Operation A.B.L.E. of Greater Boston to work with employers to build upon the ABLE Weatherization and Energy Auditing Training Program (WEAT) and develop an Energy Efficiency Administrative Support Skills training program.   Operation A.B.L.E. is the leading non-profit provider of employment services and training programs for mature workers age 45 and older in metro Boston.

“This generous gift from SkillWorks will help us strengthen our WEAT green jobs training program,” said Joan Cirillo, Operation A.B.L.E. of Greater Boston Executive Director.  “The funding will provide us with an opportunity to bring in more partner employers and training providers, update and strengthen the WEAT curriculum to include training for energy efficiency administrative support jobs, and identify the necessary credentials and certifications.  This grant will help A.B.L.E reach its goal of good jobs for all program graduates.”    Existing partners include Next Step Living, ICF International, Sustainable Construction, HeatSpring, and Everblue Training institute.   For more information about this effort contact Mark Gyurina,mgyurina@operationable.net, 617-542-4180.

SkillWorks awarded $75,000 to Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) for their GreenSTREAM Training Initiative. GreenSTREAM will create pathways to middle-skill jobs in green manufacturing and related fields by providing Boston residents with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) training, on-the-job skill development, and certification opportunities.   The Roxbury Technology Corporation, Save That Stuff, Inc., and MassCOSH will also partner in this project.  

 SkillWorks also funded the Environmental Business Council (EBC) to research and report on the workforce needs of the recycling and deconstruction industries in Massachusetts. The study will include a description of the skills, competencies, and training needs for job titles such as crew chief, crew member, and coordinator.  The project will also improve the capacity of the EBC and the Massachusetts Recycling Coalition to work with employers in the growing green job community.  For more information on this effort please contact Amy Perlmutter,amy@aperlmutter.com, at 617-354-5456.

 SkillWorks is a ten-year, $25-million investment partnership among local and national foundations, the City of Boston, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts designed to create opportunities for people to gain skills needed to be successful in the MA economy.  SkillWorks does this by investing in training programs, preparing people for and connecting them to post-secondary education, working on public policy efforts to create better pathways to post-secondary training and education, and prioritizing growing sectors in our state’s economy. For more information please contact SkillWorks Director Loh-Sze Leung at 617-338-4377, Loh-Sze.Leung@tbf.org or visit www.skill-works.org.