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| ECIA Business Growth and Partners awarded $2 Million in Green Jobs Training Funds |
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For immediate release
January 7, 2010 |
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| The Department of Labor announced a $2,060,000 grant award to ECIA Business Growth Inc. and its partners; Northeast Iowa Community College, Dubuque Area Labor Management Council, United Labor Participation Committee, City of Dubuque, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, Region 1 Employment and Training programs, Upperexploreland Council of Governments, Wisconsin Workforce Connections, Minnesota Workforce Development Inc., plus private partners including Clipper Turbine Works, Acciona Windpower, Independent Wind Turbine, LLC, Alliant Energy, Gronen Restoration/Properties, Loomis Plumbing and Heating, and K& K Gardens to develop and provide training programs for workers to enter the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, as well as green occupations within other industries. The funding was authorized through the Green Jobs Training grant program through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. |
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| The initiative will develop three separate career ladders to connect workers to green jobs in renewable electric power, energy efficient assessment, and energy efficient building. These three paths include A.A.S. and diploma technician programs in Wind Turbine Repair, as well as RESNET Home Energy Rater training, and Green Building Professional certifications for residential and commercial construction. Recruitment, placement, retention, and supportive services to enable trainee participation and subsequent successful employment will be integrated into the training activities. |
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| "This is an exciting opportunity for Northeast Iowa, Southern Minnesota, and Southwest Wisconsin. There were only 25 awards nationally. The strength of our partnership and the vision for future green jobs employment opportunities in a growing industry gave our partnership the edge in being selected for the funding," said Kelley Deutmeyer, Executive Director of East Central Intergovernmental Association (ECIA). |
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| Mayor Roy Buol agreed, saying "this opportunity for ECIA and NICC will benefit the entire Dubuque community. As the market demand for sustainable services and products continues to grow, we see new training and retraining needs. The City will be a key partner in connecting these newly-trained workers to green job opportunities." |
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| The program will benefit residents in a 27 county region across Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. In Iowa this includes Allamakee, Bremer, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Howard, Jackson, Jones, Mitchell and Winneshiek Counties. The program will serve approximately 400 participants during the life of the two year grant with the initial target audience of unemployed and dislocated workers, high school graduates, veterans, disconnected youth, women, and minorities. |
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