Chicago to use ARRA money to create green jobs
Chicago will use $7.425 million in funds received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to create nearly 300 green jobs for hard-to-employ residents, including released prisoners, over the next two years, Mayor Richard Daley announced on Dec. 5. The city will use the funds to support two new green job training initiatives: the Green Job Work Experience and Community Green Jobs.
The city will distribute the funds to 11 delegate agencies that will facilitate the two initiatives. “Our residents are struggling under the most painful economy we have experienced in 70 years,” Daley said during a press conference to announce the plan. “Too many people are out of work. Too few jobs are being created. People are forced to use their savings — if they’re lucky enough to have some — just to keep their homes or to pay their bills.”
Beginning in January, Green Job Work Experience will train 190 hard-to-employ individuals, including formerly incarcerated Chicagoans, to work in the environment sector. It also will support approximately 20 supervisors, trainees and administrative staff to work over the next two years through two programs. Workers will be trained for jobs involved in energy efficiency upgrades, manufacturing sustainable products from recycled materials, local agriculture, waste removal, reduction and recycling, and other related industries. Participants in the Green Job Work Experience programs will work at least 1,200 paid hours per year (30 hours per week for 40 weeks).
Community Green Jobs will employ 80 hard-to-employ individuals by funding job placements in green businesses that help to promote energy efficiency, reduce waste and pollution through recycling, and other green initiatives. Participants in the Community Green Jobs initiative will work at least 1,500 paid hours per year (30 hours per week for 50 weeks). All participants will receive technical job skills and academic training, social and life services support, and job placement assistance. Wages vary based on position but are between $8 and $10.50 per hour plus 40% for payroll taxes, workman’s compensation, FICA, health insurance and other benefits.
Read more information on Chicago’s Green Job Work Experience and Community Green Jobs programs.
