$1.5M Grant to Help Goodwill of Central Arizona Provide Green Jobs Training
The U.S. Department of Labor's $7.3 million award to Goodwill Industries International as a part of its Pathways Out of Poverty Grants program will provide a will provide a major boost in needed operations funding to Goodwill of Central Arizona's efforts to Put People to Work.
Goodwill of Central Arizona is one of six member organizations that were included in the Goodwill Goes Green (G3) proposal. According to Lisa Kizer, Vice President of Workforce Development, our agency will receive $1.5 million in funds that will allow Goodwill of Central Arizona to serve about 200 people.
This grant will provide green jobs training to individuals living in high poverty geographic areas via cohesive programs that integrate training and supportive services to help individuals find "pathways out of poverty" and move toward economic self-sufficiency.
"The Pathways out of Poverty grant is a new avenue for Goodwill of Central Arizona," said Kizer. "We will not only be part of a national project that is one of the most anticipated new areas for jobs – the green sector, but we will collaborate with local employers and the community college district to train and employ people in this emerging industry. Furthermore, the project will focus on recently unemployed individuals who are looking to obtain additional training for better paying jobs. The focus will be on the south Phoenix area, where the unemployment rate has risen dramatically as a result of the economy."
G3 is a national model in six diverse, high-need communities to help the hardest-to-place job seekers secure green-industry related jobs. Overall, G3 will serve 1,300 individuals with 997 beginning training services in the Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy (EE/RE) industries of energy-efficient building construction and retrofit, renewable electric power, and energy efficiency assessment. Of those beginning training, 664 (67 percent) will receive certification. Of the 764 who complete the education and training services, 621 (93 percent) will be placed into unsubsidized employment. Goodwill's century of experience in providing job training and placement services for people with disadvantages and disabilities has prepared it for this opportunity.
This opportunity builds upon and expands Goodwill of Central Arizona's commitment to reducing our environmental footprint on our state. In addition to repurposing material goods through our retail initiative, our mission encourages sustainability throughout our communities through the preservation of human resources and workforce development.
Through this financial commitment to Goodwill of Central Arizona, our entire organization can continue our efforts to help communities across the state realize the benefits of sustainability and going green.
