DRAFT - Current Landscape

 

 

 

 

Green Jobs Roundtable:

Current Landscape Work Group

 

 

Draft Report

Version 4.0 (November 14th)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Green Jobs Roundtable: Current Landscape Work Group

Sector Template: Overview

             

Labor Market: What does New York City’s labor market look like? What sectors of the economy have grown and retracted in recent years? How do wages, occupations and skills break-down demographically?

 

The headline news for the regional labor market is the real and anticipated job losses for New York City and the region due to the crisis in the financial industry and the spill-over effect which those losses will have on City and State governments, related industries and the local economy as a whole.

 

A constant stream of job losses in the Financial Services industry that began in early 2008 and rose dramatically this fall in the wake of the US-led global financial crisis.  In September, Governor Patterson estimated that “approximately 40,000 jobs in the financial services industry in the New York City area can be expected to be lost in the current downturn. All told, approximately 120,000 jobs may ultimately be directly and indirectly affected as a result of financial sector turmoil.  In 2007, Wall Street accounted for 185,700 jobs; 5.8 percent of New York City’s private sector employment and 28 percent of private sector wages.”

Delivering a grim prognosis for the city’s economy, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced plans on November 4thto save $1.5 billion this fiscal year and next in part by trimming 3,000 jobs from the city’s workforce.

Underscoring the dramatic effects these large scale trends have on workers and families, unemployment rates in New York State are rising.  African American and Latino residents show higher unemployment rates than the population as a whole.   Over the summer, the number of New York City workers filing for unemployment insurance jumped by 25 percent over the prior year. Workers' paychecks are taking a beating as well, as the price of gasoline, food and housing have soared. The Fiscal Policy Institute estimates that the inflation-adjusted median hourly wage in the city fell by 4 percent in the 12 months between June 2007 and June 2008.  Gotham Gazette

For the four months ending August 2008 building projects fell by 38.5%; planned space for building project starts fell 51.5% from the same period in 2007; and residential building construction starts decreased by 39.5%. (NYC EDC Economic Snapshot October 2008) This aspect of the downturn will have a direct short-term impact on green construction and will also slow growth in green manufacturing because 25% of New York City’s manufacturing sector is focused on building products.

 

The only bright news on the horizon is the outcome of the Presidential election – with President Elect Obama platform linking green jobs, renewable energy and infrastructure investments to the country’s economic recovery.

 

Resources - workforce development
 

• Breaking Through: Helping Low-Skilled Adults Enter and Succeed in College and Careers , a joint publication of Jobs for the Future and the National Council for Workforce Education, November 2004.

 

• Community Partnerships for Adult Learning (http://www.c-pal.net/), supported by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education

 

• Creating Authentic Materials and Activities for the Adult Literacy Classroom: A Handbook for Practitioner (http://www.basic-skills-observatory.co.uk/uploads/doc_uploads/623.pdf). Published by the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy in April, 2003.

 

• National Association for Developmental Education (http://www.nade.net/)
• National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (http://gseweb.harvard.edu/~ncsall/)

 

• Planning Programs for Adult Learners: A Practical Guide for Educators, Trainers, and Staff Developers (http://www.josseybass.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0787952257.html), Second Edition. Published by Jossey-Bass, December 2001.
   
• Remedial/Developmental Education, (http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/cclo/remedial.html), U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education
   
• Workforce Education (http://worklink.coe.utk.edu//)

 

• The Professional Development Program (http://www.skillsusa.org/pdp.html) is an employability skills training curriculum developed by Skills USA. The program guides students through 84 employability skills activities that help meet the competencies set by the U.S. Secretary of Labor's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS).

 

 

Assessing Basic Skills:

Adult Basic Education Assessment Tests, as the name implies, are instruments used to measure adults' level of basic skills. The assessment instruments most widely used are:

 

• Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE) is a commercially-produced, multiple choice test that assesses basic skills in reading, mathematics, and language for training and employment. TABE, published by CTB/McGraw-Hill, includes an online version as well as instructional support materials. TABE Work-Related Foundation Skills measures foundation skills in a specific job-related context. For more information on TABE, go to CTB/McGraw-Hill (http://www.ctb.com/) and click on "Adult Education."

 

• Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS), (http://www.casas.org/casasnewweb/index.cfm) is a nonprofit organization that provides competency-based curriculum management, assessment, and evaluation systems to education and training programs.

 

• Adult Basic Learning Examination (ABLE), (http://www.nifl.gov/readingprofiles/ABLE.htm) is a standardized test of vocabulary, silent reading comprehension, spelling, language use, and mathematics.

 

• WorkKeys,(http://www.act.org/workkeys/) includes skills assessment in reading for information, business writing, location information, observation, applied technology, applied mathematics, writing, teamwork, and listening.
   

 

 

 

 

 

Green Jobs Roundtable: Current Landscape Work Group

Sector Template: Energy

 

employers in this sub-sector

 

• Weatherization Assistance Programs - 20 community-based organizations in NYC and their sub-contractors who weatherize low-income housing in NYC;

 

• Home Performance Contractors - about one dozen private contractors that do energy assessments and upgrades for 1-4 family houses; insulation contractors (many) whose business will expand as retrofits increase;

 

• Multifamily building analysts/engineers

 

• ESCOs that provide energy management/upgrades to large institutions

 

• Solar installers

 

• Other firms specializing in renewable sources – wind, cogeneration, solar thermal

 

• Building management companies (i.e. Durst, Vornado etc.)

 

training and career ladder opportunities related to this sector

 

Training may relate to conducting building audits, retrofits or management/maintenance.  NYSERDA currently provides tuition reimbursement for contractors who take approved classes at AEA and BCC to earn certification from the Building Performance Institute (BPI) as building analysts, HVAC speacialists, Insualtion specialists for small homes.  AEA also offers training for multifamily building analyst classes; those firms are mostly large engineering firms.  Steven Winter Associates and AEA also offer classes to become BPI certified as an Energy Efficient Building Operator.

 

 

Market Drivers

 

State and City Policy:

• PlaNYC 2030 establishes goals for improving the sustainability of NYC’s environment including the goal of reducing NYC’s carbon emissions by 30% by 2030. see: http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/html/plan/energy.shtml

 

• 15x15 is a NYS initiativeto reduce electrical energy use by 15% from projected levels by 2015.  Projections forecast an 11% increase in electrical use by 2015.

 

 

New City/State Legislative/regulatory Initiatives

 

• Recent NYC solar incentives:  Recent NYC legislation (and extension of the Federal Tax Credit) to allow net metering and to provide a real estate property tax incentive for solar has increased demand for solar in NYC.

 

• The City is still working with the City Council to finalize draft energy efficiency legislation. Among other things, those pieces of legislation would make annual benchmarking mandatory in private buildings 50,000 sq. feet and bigger and in City buildings over 10,000 sq. feet, and would require the retrocommissioning and, in the cases of non code-compliant buildings, auditing and retrofitting of such buildings every 10 years as well. The City has emphasized the need to develop a State certification for auditors and ASHRAE wants to work with the City to develop such a certification.

 

• Through Executive Order 109, the City committed to a 30% reduction in municipal greenhouse gas emissions by 2017 and established a Steering Committee to develop a reduction plan. In December, the Steering Committee established a short-term plan for FY ’08 which includes:

 

• Implementing 132 capital improvement projects, such as lighting, heating,ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), water and sewer, and vehicle upgradesproducing 33,882 tons in annual GHG reductions;
• Conducting an energy audit pilot program in 22 buildings to assess the current energy consumption of buildings;
• Initiating a LEED-EB and retrocommissioning assessment pilot program in 10buildings to evaluate the benefit of each of those programs;
• Beginning an operations and maintenance study to examine existing practices atthe City’s largest energy-using agencies;
• Launching a metering and monitoring initiative to track energy consumption inbuildings on an ongoing basis and analyze the need for energy conservationmeasures;
• Starting design for a database to connect energy consumption data recorded bysystems throughout the City’s building portfolio;
• Undertaking a small-scale renovations study; and
• Continuing Department of Citywide Administrative Service’s current vehicle fleet analysis on new technologies and bestpractices.

 

 

In July of 2008, the Steering Committee released a long-term reduction plan identifying the following types of Greenhouse Gas Reduction projects:

 

• Building retrofits and systems replacements
• Retrocommissioning and efficient operations and maintenance (O&M)
• Wastewater treatment plant retrofits, upgrades and efficiency measures such as using recaptured methane to power electric generation equipment,
• PV and CHP installation
• Street lighting upgrades
• New construction in conjunction with Local Law 86
• Installation of “Emerging technologies” such as solar thermal
• Implementation of the 2006 Solid Waste Management Plan

 

The City has already committed approximately $900 million to these measures over the next nine years but an extra $1.4 billion is needed to complete them. The Steering Committee has been tasked with exploring additional funding from other sources such as state and federal grant programs and private foundations.

 

• According to the PlaNYC Progress Report, the City is “working with NYSERDA and CUNY to develop programs for energy efficiency and pursuing plans for [a] lighting resource training center.” They aim to set-up the energy efficiency training, certification and monitoring program that they proposed in PlaNYC by December 2009. Such a program would train and certify “building operators, builders, design­ers, retailers, and energy service providers” to ensure that building practices reflect the most energy-efficient strategies.
• The City released an RFP for consultants to conduct a study on the cost-effectiveness of “solar electricity when evaluated on a real-time pricing scenario.” They additionally released an RFP for a solar developer to purchase, install, own and operate 2 MW of solar capacity “in exchange for a long-term power purchase agreement.” The City also convened a Citywide Siting Task Force to evaluate sites for anaerobic digestion and drafted a scope of work for the second phase of the Hunts Point anaerobic digestion feasibility study. Lastly, The City began a two-year program to contain all methane from wastewater treatment plants, completed an engineering design for a demonstration project to convert methane into energy at the Owls Head Wastewater Treatment Plant and aims to end methane emissions from wastewater treatment plants by December of next year.

 

 

 

Capacity

• Need to raise awareness and educate all players involved in the building sector about the costs of doing nothing and the cost-effective alternatives to build and operate buildings in ways that dramatically reduce energy use.  Virtually every building in NYC can reduce energy use by upwards of 20% by implementing relatively low-cost measures in the management and operations and retrofit of buildings, however, best practice is rarely implemented even now.

 

• Need better outreach in these areas related to reducing energy use in buildings:
  • development:  contractors, architects, engineers, developers,
  • management:  building managers, supers, porters, tenants, homeowners, building owners
  • finance and oversight:  DOB inspectors, NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development program staff and building inspectors, , OMB, bankers

 

Regulation

• Need additional regulation to stimulate demand; we are unlikely to reach scale without additional requirements in the NYC Building Code for new and existing buildings.  For more information about the NYC Building Code see a recent report called DeCoding the Code by Michael Bobker, et al of CUNY Building Performance Lab  http://sallan.org/Decoding-the-Code/SallanReport_DecodingTheCode_web.pdf

 

 

Funding/resources

NYC and NYS have some important resources that could be harnessed to dramatically reduce energy use:

• Systems Benefit Charge (SBC):  In 1996, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) called for the establishment of a System Benefits Charge (SBC) to fund public policy initiatives not expected to be adequately addressed by New York's competitive electricity markets. In 1998, the PSC specified SBC funding levels for three years and the framework for energy programs targeting efficiency measures, research and development and the low-income sector. The SBC was renewed for a five year period in 2001 with increased funding and additional focus on programs designed to achieve peak load reductions.  In December 2005, the PSC extended the SBC program for an additional five year period (7/1/2006-6/30/2011) with an annual funding level of $175 million. The previous SBC funding level was approximately $150 million annually. The SBC program portfolio has been primarily administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).  In June 2008, the PSC commenced its Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (EEPS) to meet the state 15x15 mandate to reduce energy use by 15% from projected levels by 2015. The EEPS nearly doubled the systems benefit charge, increasing resources by $172 million – half of those new funds will go to NYSERDA programs; half to utility-company administered conservation programs and  sets targets for the electric and gas utility companies to reduce energy use.  See www.askpsc.com

• New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA): Public authority created in 1975 as a research and development authority; since 1996, administered programs funded primarily by the SBC to reduce energy use statewide.  Programs include ‘market-transformation,’ (e.g., incentives)  oriented programs for all building types as well as agriculture, alternative energy, school buses and other transit, school curricula, etc.  NYSERDA recently created a new position – NYC Director – which may elevate NYSERDA’s presence in the city.  For overview and business-related programs and info:  www.nyserda.org; for residential programs – www.getenergysmart.org; for alternative energy www.powernaturally.com

 

 

• The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is the first mandatory, market-based effort in the United States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ten Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, including NY, are capping and then reduce CO2 emissions from the power sector 10% by 2018.  States sell emission allowances through auctions and invest proceeds in consumer benefits: energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other clean energy technologies. RGGI will spur innovation in the clean energy economy and create green jobs in each state.  The first auction held on 9/25/08 generated $38.5 million but NY did not participate. Auction funds are intended for environmental initiatives in NYS but in lean times, it may be a struggle to keep them dedicated for this purpose.  See: http://www.rggi.org/home
• Utility Companies – Con Ed, National Grid will be administering their own conservation programs.  For example, Con Ed has proposed a Direct Installation program to the PSC under the EEPS.  This would generate jobs and about 5000 retrofits in NYC (google EEPS 90-day filing).  National Grid also has new programs in NYC including free energy walk-through assessments administered by CSG (see www.thinksmartthinkgreen.com)

 

 

Questions and Issues for further investigation

 

• Who at CUNY and NYSERDA is the City working with to develop the energy efficiency certification? Will the training and certification program be mandatory or voluntary for building personnel? Will CUNY and/or NYSERDA exclusively offer the certification/training, or could other training and workforce development institutions offer it? Will this new certification be grounded in existing certifications? What specific areas of energy efficiency building maintenance will this certification/training address (retrocommissioning, benchmarking, new efficient equipment, HVAC systems etc)?

 

Technology/Research and Development

• Potential for solar energy, which could be providing all of NYC’s electric needs, is stymied in part because of the condition of the current electric grid. 

 

• Additional research is needed for use of wind, hydro-electric in NYC.

 

• Who did the City choose to do the Solar study? What are the early findings of this study? Who did the City choose for the 2MW solar project?  Has the contract been finalized? Has expanded Renewable Portfolio Standard funding worked to decrease solar interconnectivity and market barriers in New York City over the last year? Since May, what progress has been made on the feasibility study for the Hunts Point anaerobic digestion project? What is the timetable for commencing the Owls Head demonstration project?
  
  
  Green Jobs Roundtable: Current Landscape Work Group

Sector Template: Urban Forestry

 

employers in this sub-sector

The primary employers in this sector are the City Parks Departments, NY Restoration Project, the New York, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island botanical gardens.    Green roof installers also use workers for planting and caring for plants. 

 

training and career ladder opportunities related to this sector

 

The largest training program in this sector is the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Parks Opportunity Program (POP).  This program provides on the job horticulture training to over 3,000 transitional workers each year.  At this time, capacity is 32 people per year.

 

New York Restoration Project/NYC Parks Department is jointly piloting a new 7-month full time Million Trees NYC training program.  Participants receive training in Community Forestry; landscape design and installation or arboriculture.  

 

Sustainable South Bronx also provides training in this sector.

 

NB, there are currently no local training available for green roof installation.  Training is available through the national assoc, and/or manufactures’ based training is available outside of NYC.  Most training occurs through apprenticeship/on the job training.
 

Market Drivers

 

MillionTreesNYC

A ten year PlaNYC initiative—led jointly by New York Restoration Project and the New York City Parks Department—to plant a million trees across the five boroughs of New York City.  Sixty percent of the trees will be planted in city parklands and along public right-of-ways; the remaining forty percent will be planted at other publicly accessible properties across New York City, including NYCHA campuses, DOE properties, cultural organizations, hospital and health care institutions, college and university campuses, public cemeteries, etc.

 

While MillionTreesNYC certainly offers green collar job growth within the urban forestry domain, the extent of that job growth will hinge on the richness of funded programming (i.e., will tree planting alone be funded, or will tree planting and tree stewardship be funded …)

 

NYC “Green” Zoning Text Amendments

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/green_initiatives/index.shtml:

Ensuring that the city has adequate green spaces is critical to creating a livable, sustainable city with a healthy environment and an improved quality of life. In keeping with the Bloomberg Administration's PlaNYC sustainability initiatives, City Planning is acting to green the city wherever it can. These initiatives will improve the city's neighborhoods while putting in place essential elements to achieve the City's 2030 sustainability objectives.

 

1. Street Tree Planting - Text Amendment: Adopted 04/30/08
   New text requires street tree planting for all new developments and major enlargements citywide, that will result in approximately 10,000 new street trees per year.
2. Zoning Amendments to Enhance Yards and Open Space: Adopted 04/30/08
   Text amendments to the Zoning Resolution prevent excessive paving of front yards by encouraging landscaping and planting of yards throughout the city.
3. Green Standards for Parking Lots: Adopted 11/28/07
   Citywide text amendment for commercial and community facility parking lots applies design regulations for landscaping, perimeter screening of the lots as well as requirements for canopy trees in planting islands within the lots.

 

NYC Green Roof tax abatement (Passed 08/5/08)

From the bill: “This bill would amend Article 4 of the Real Property Tax Law ("RPTL") by adding a new Title 4-8, which would provide for a one-year tax abatement for the construction of a "green roof" on a class one, two or four building in the City of New York. In general, a green roof is an addition to a roof that includes, among other things, a growth medium and a vegetation layer of drought-resistant, hardy plant species.

 

The amount of the abatement would be $4.50 per square foot of green roof, limited to the lesser of $100,000 or the building’s tax liability for the year in which the abatement is taken. The green roof tax abatement is a pilot program that would sunset March 15, 2013.” For more info: http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A11226

 

 

National Market Drivers:  National MillionTrees Trend

A host of cities across the United States have launched large scale tree planting campaigns, including: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Houston, making urban forestry skills marketable across much of the country.

 

Questions and Issues

Does the Parks Department have a budget in place to maintain newly completed Destination Parks or has funding only been allocated for design and construction?  Will the Million Trees Training Program expand or be made permanent after this upcoming pilot year? Will Parks Department workers maintain the new trees or will the responsibility fall to non-profits or community-based organizations?

Green Jobs Roundtable: Current Landscape Work Group

Sector Template: Green Product Development

 

employers in this sub-sector

 

Figures on the number of manufacturing jobs in the city vary, ranging from 7,000 firms offering 100,000 jobs1 to 11,000 firms offering 250,000 jobs.2 This means that manufacturing accounts for 2.7-6.7% of the total 3.745 million jobs in New York City.3

 

PlaNYC2030 makes no mention of the manufacturing sector of the city’s economy. Manufacturing sites are mentioned as troublesome brownfields and/or potential sites for new apartments.4

0.  

This may be because manufacturing has been in steady decline in New York City, with manufacturing leading the industries showing job loss—4,200 jobs in the first five months of 2008.5

 

1,700 NYC firms manufacture a building-related product employing 27,500 people and paying more than $1 billion in wages (NYS Dept Labor 2004 & 2005). These firms produce 12 categories of products. The sector comprises 25% of the City’s entire manufacturing sector.  The literature on green manufacturing is dominated by building products because of the size and importance of this industry segment overall in NYC’s manufacturing base.

 

training and career ladder opportunities related to this sector

[None identified]

 

Market Drivers

 

• Manufacturing pays on average $10,000 more than jobs in retailing and restaurants.  64% of manufacturing workforce in New York City is immigrant and almost 84% are people of color.

 

• 2006 Solid Waste Management Plan

 

• Tax incentives for retrofitting (NYSERDA)

 

• Tax incentives for brownfield development

 

• Savings from energy efficient buildings

 

 

Green construction trends:

• All planned LEED projects within 500 miles of New York City are potential clients for local manufacturers; local competitive advantages are lost beyond 500 miles radius.  As of 2005, there were 577 green buildings planned within the 500 mile radius (as of 2005; ref. Building Green)

 

• Local Law 86, passed in 2006, creates a market incentive in the construction supply change by specifying green building standards/criteria for all City capital building projects greater than $2 million including construction of new buildings, additions to existing buildings and substantial reconstruction of existing buildings. The LEED standards referred to in the law includes a preference for the purchase of locally produced materials and products. The purpose of the law is to stimulate jobs in local green manufacturing. The initiative provides national expansion opportunities for local businesses.

 

 

 

Questions and Issues for further investigation

 

• What kind of data is available on areas of manufacturing other than green construction?

 

• The Green Manufacturing Initiative seeks to create jobs by streamlining the supply chain between real estate development community and local manufacturers of green products.

 

• Industrial Business Zones (IBZs), an initiative of the Bloomberg administration, are areas where the city provides expanded assistance services to industrial firms in partnership with local development groups. There are 16 IBZ proposed for the city. Industrial Business Solutions Providers will offer quick and reliable access to broad range of business questions including (see list). The City is conducting planning studies to improve each IBZ. (From NYIRN) What are the potential linkages between green manufacturing programs, Industrial Business Zones and BOAS?
   
• According to NYIRN, Local Law 86 rules omit provisions to specify purchases of local materials because of possible conflicts with NYS Municipal Law. A provision or exception of the Municipal Law could be sought by the City.
   

• Encouraging the evolution of existing companies to adapt to the green marketplace may be better than emphasizing the creation of new businesses.

 

• What green products need to be manufactured nearby due to excessive long-distance travel costs and negligible savings if manufactured at a distant location?

 

• What new, green manufacturing is best suited to New York City because:

 

0. - The infrastructure exists for manufacturing this product (the city currently hosts a similar industry, or there is a workforce in the city with skills specific to this manufacturer’s needs);
1.  
2. - NYC’s location offers unique advantages (access to raw materials, energy, transport);
3.  
4. - There is real growth potential for the product;

 

5. - The manufacture of this product is environmentally friendly;

 

6. - The industry provides well-paid jobs with a real career path;

 

7. -The benefits from manufacturing outweigh the benefits from other potential uses of the land, materials and personnel needed?

0.  
1. For those industries that meet the abovementioned criteria, coordination of efforts with MANYC, (the Manufacturer’s Association of New York City),ITAC,(the Industrial & Technology Assistance Corporation, and NYIRN, (the New York Industrial Retention Network), seems a good idea. These organizations offer several resources about green manufacturing in New York, including publications on green manufacturing in New York City, advice on how to start or expand a manufacturing firm in the city and a database of green manufacturers already functioning. (See Resources, below)

 

Finally, city officials must be convinced that there is a future for manufacturing in this city. They need to see that manufacturing can be a growth sector, offering environmentally friendly products and real careers with decent wages. Once they are convinced of the manufacturing sector’s viability, they can then decide on the inducements needed to attract industry.

 

 

resources

 

• Arker Companies recognitions:http://www.arkercompanies.com/news_clips.htm

 

• Manufacturing Green: Producing a Sustainable NYC, a report by NYIRN and ITAC (2006) (web address): This report explores the major challenges local firms currently face and the types of programs that will allow them to take full advantage of green building opportunities. It outlines the following challenges and recommends solutions.

 

• Building Green: New Business Opportunities for NYC Manufacturers, a report by NYIRN and ITAC (2005) provide policy makers with information on the link between green building and new opportunities for local manufacturers. 

 

• New York Industrial Retention Network (NYIRN) – provides customized green product sourcing assistance, organizes networking and mini trade shows (http://www.specitgreen.org/) and tracks green manufacturing as part of madeinnyc.org.

 

• Industrial & Technology Assistance Corporation (ITAC) – provides in-depth, one-on-one technology assistance for NYC manufacturing and technology firms.

 

• Made in NYC is a joint program between NYIRN, ITAC and the Manufacturers Association of NYC that encourages businesses to purchase goods made in the City.

 

Green Jobs Roundtable: Current Landscape Work Group

Sector Template: Transportation

 

employers in this sub-sector

 

With over 68,000 employees the Metropolitan Transit Authority dominates employment in this sector. The MTA is located in and provides public transportation services in New York City through Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut.

 

In addition to traditional transportation careers,Green Collar Job areas in transportationfall into the realms of biofuels, vehicle systems, storage & transportation, planning, infrastructure, non-technical, waste management and policy, water management, water resources, hydro electric, desalination, engineering, carbon audits, energy management, emission trading, emissions offsetting and carbon sequestration.

 

training and career ladder opportunities related to this sector

 

Training in this sector is well-organized primarily through the Transport Workers Union of America AFL-CIO (TWU) Education and Research Department.  New York City is also home to a dedicated Transit Tech Career and Technical Education High School in Brooklyn. See more in the appendix.

 

Market Drivers

 

• A number of proposals are in place to expand the city’s mass transit system and to make it greener and more sustainable in the coming years. In the MTA’s 2008-2013 capital budget, the Authority proposed to invest billions of dollars in projects that would improve local commuter rail service, provide new commuter rail access to Manhattan and expand transit access to underserved areas. These are all long-term capital projects that would create tens of thousands of new jobs if implemented. The City and MTA also have immediate term plans in place to expand ferry service and bus service.

 

• In addition to these mass transit expansions, steps have been taken to make the existing mass transit infrastructure more sustainable. In the last year, the City retrofitted many ferries and there are more ferry retrofits planned in the coming years. The MTA has numerous, ambitious sustainability proposals on the table including an effort to:

 

• maximize the use of regenerative braking systems in new subway cars; evaluate the effectiveness of installing wind turbines on bus depots;
• increase recycling;
• use wind turbines to power select subway stations;
• purchase 6 MW of solar energy;
• expand net metering
• pilot platform screen doors to improve climate control; and
• double its program of energy audits and energy efficiency projects by 2015, among others things.

 

These sustainability proposals would likely create many new jobs in: construction and installation; maintenance and operations; and feasibility assessments and studies.

 

• There is no question that expanding and greening the mass transit system would be a huge impetus for green collar jobs and would demand a coordinated approach to workforce needs. The question is: will the funding be available to make many of these projects a reality? Many of these projects, such as expanding bus rapid service and retrofitting ferries, are already in the works. But it remains to be seen if the MTA will be adequately resourced to take on the more ambitious projects that would necessitate an immediate workforce development plan.

 

• Funding strategy options for sustainability projects in public transportation include:

• Federal reauthorization process.
• State and or Federal legislation that will put an enforceable limit on state-wide greenhouse gas emissions.
• T4, Transportation Bill & 2009 energy bills to provide funds for renewable energy/energy efficiency.
• Stimulus bill to provide infrastructure funding.
• Creation of a market for carbon offset / carbon emission avoidance based revenues -Public transportation’s prominent role in emissions avoidance would place it in a position to benefit from this market and reinvest new funds into operations, maintenance and expansion. Utilizing Carbon Displacement Modeling, public transportation organizations can quantify its actual contribution to carbon avoidance in service areas (CO2/passenger mile), presenting a strong argument for seeking a greater share of revenue from a future cap and trade system.

 

resources

Green Collar Transport Jobsare defined and classified in the Green Energy Career Guidehttp://www.greenenergyjobs.com/career-guide/sustainable-transport-jobs

 

 

 

Green Jobs Roundtable: Current Landscape Work Group

Sector Template: Environmental Monitoring & Remediation

 

employers in this sub-sector

 

Employment in this sector is divided between Environmental engineering and environmental testing.  Several large employers are readily identified.  The city also lists ??? licensed contractors that do some form of environmental remediation (asbsestos removal, air/mold testing, etc..)

 

training and career ladder opportunities related to this sector

 

• Saint Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corporation, and STRIVE/East Harlem Employment Services, Inc. have developed training and education programs in an effort to address land-use, water and waste and the environmental issues that plague their respective communities.

 

• Several the Brownfields Job Development and Training programs conduct their own basic skills training while others partner with organizations in the community that offer adult literacy training.

 

• Advanced Technology Environmental Education Center (http://www.ateec.org/) ATEEC has developed a list of science, math, and technical knowledge and skills for students interested in a career in environmental technology.

 

As a result of Federal, State and City funding reforms and the increase in resources available to address the more than 7,600 acres of Brownfield in the five (5) boroughs, training programs are evolving to address the market forecast and tackle the need for a more skilled workforce. The growth potential for recipients of environmental remediation training includes career paths in the Building Trades, Construction and included positions that require advanced degrees such as Associates, Bachelors or higher.

 

Minimum educational requirements for Brownfields training grantee recruits vary from program to program. Some require a high school diploma or enrollment in a GED program plus being 18 years of age or older. Honolulu, for example, requires participants to perform at a 7th grade level education on a TABE test. King County requires recruits to pass a CASAS test which typically requires a 9th grade education. Many programs also require a drug test.

 

 

Market Drivers

 

• Increased awareness of perceived, potential and the actual presence of Hazardous Waste Materials are one of the major forces effecting growth.
   
• Involvement of the Governor’s Office and Mayor’s new Office of Environmental Remediation and the successful obtaining funding for the remediation and revitalization of the over 7,600 Brownfield sites in the five (5) boroughs.
   
• The construction boom which topped $54 billion dollars in 2007 and the existing infra-structure which demands the assessment and remediation of potential and real contamination is needed in an effort to make way for the continued growth of New York City.
   
• The recent release of millions of dollars in Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) funding.
  New incentives for clean-up projects (current and future) which follow planning guidelines.
   
• The Bi-partisan agreement for focus on Brownfield remediation and Brownfield re-development, the latter of which includes other areas of green collar work such as renewable energy, retro-fitting, recycling and energy efficiency to name a few.

 

• Brownfields redevelopment is directly to development forces. Clearly the market conditions have a major factor. Ironically, the difficulty of address more complex brownfields sites also provides opportunities for affordable manufacturing space and affordable housing. Related to this is financial incentives to address both the higher costs of development on a brownfield site, and the greater uncertainty associated with cost overruns of the remediation and delays associated with regulatory approvals. A major hurdle on the financial incentives side has been addressed by the recent amendment to Brownfields Law. The amendment provides more certainty to the future existence of the brownfield tax credit and, therefore, the brownfield tax credit is expected to able to be used as a take out source of funds. In addition, the amendment provides for a tax credit bonus for “brownfield opportunity areas (BOAs)” In NYC, there are 17 BOAs encompassing over 2,000 brownfield sites. This bonus provides the first financial incentive to build consistent with the community based plans that emerge from BOA planning.

 

• Before deciding what type of job training program to develop, you first need to conduct a labor market assessment to match training with local labor needs. Developing training that is not connected to substantiated jobs is a recipe for failure and a huge disservice to your students. A labor market assessment helps you anticipate if your future students will be likely to have employment opportunities after graduation. That is only fair to your students, who should be viewed as "customers" needing to be satisfied.

 

Questions and Issues for further investigation

 

The greatest opportunity to connect brownfields development to community revitalization, including job creation, is the BOA program. Currently there are 17 neighborhoods awarded a total of $4.5 million in State BOA planning funds, covering over 2,000 brownfield sites in Jamaica, West Brighton, Sherman Creek, Sunset Park, Red Hook, East Williamsburg, South Bronx Waterfront, East New York, Port Morris, Harlem River/Bronx, Broadway Triangle, Gowanus, Port Richmond, Eastchester, Newtown Creek, Bushwick, and Harlem. Another half dozen NYC communities are poised to take advantage of new Brownfield Opportunity Area funds the state is making available this spring. These funds are being used to conduct environmental and economic studies, and to identify strategic sites and redevelopment uses. Because these communities are in or adjacent to manufacturing zones, these are areas represent the largest block of properties for redeveloping brownfields properties for manufacturing uses.
 

• The critical question is whether the City is authentic about the stated goals of PlaNYC to support the implementation of BOA plans. In order to do so, key city agencies must commit to participate in each of the BOA plans, disclose their plans for the areas encompassed by each BOA, and commit to adhere to, and target agency resources for, the implementation of BOA plans.

 

• What can be done to ensure that low-income, low-skilled minority workers become a part of the workforce and industries that historically have been discriminatory in their hiring practices?

 

• What can be done to ensure that businesses who receive government funding for Brownfield clean up efforts hire graduates of programs who received funding for Brownfield remediation?

 

• What can be done to write in the ex-offender population into the rant recipient and tax incentive recipients on large scale projects currently underway in areas such as public housing and in public schools?

 

• What oversight committees are currently in place or can be formed to assure compliance with hiring practices outlined in Grant Proposals and as part of tax breaks to hire minority workers?

 

• How do we convenience the decision makers that a clean property provides a revitalized community and paves the way for new businesses and new jobs?

 

resources

 

• Labor Market Assessment for Brownfields - Taken from: http://brownfields-toolbox.org/labor_market.htm#best

Best Practices in Labor Market Assessment

Conducting Labor Market Assessments for Brownfields

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix:  Energy

 

NYSERDA Small Homes Contractors in New York City

 

1. ABCO Builders & Energy Management, Inc.Dominic RiemmaDriemma@nyc.rr.com348 Knollwood AvenueDouglaston, NY 11363Phone: (718) 225-8479Fax: (715) 225-8749

 

2. Airseal Insulation Systemshttp://www.airsealis.com/Jonathan Hochinfo@airsealis.com234 6th StreetBrooklyn, NY 11215Phone: 718-821-6800Fax: 718-821-6801

 

3. Arctic Mechanical, Inc.http://www.arctic-mechanical.com/John Paulettisales@arctic-mechanicalcorp.com28 Bulkley AvenuePort Chester, NY 10573Phone: 914-934-8301Fax: 914-935-9450

 

4. A.S.K. Construction, Inc.http://www.askconstruction.com/John Kotaridisaskconstruction@yahoo.com2601 21st StreetAstoria, NY 11102Phone: (718) 726-3550Fax: (718) 726-3937

 

5. Association for Energy Affordabilityhttp://www.aeanyc.org/Francis Rodriguezfrodriguez@aeanyc.org505 8th Avenue, Suite 1801New York, NY 10018Phone: (718) 292-6733Fax: (718) 292-1914
 

6. Atlantis Cooling and HeatingDaniel Amodeoatlantishvac@aol.com98-03 162nd AvenueHoward Beach, NY 11414Phone: 718-738-3491Fax: 718-738-6883

 

7. Bonded Building & Engineeringhttp://www.bondedbuilding.com/Jerritt Gluckjerrittg@bondedbuilding.com76 South StreetOyster Bay, NY 11771Phone: 516-922-9867Fax: 516-730-5003

 

8. Clover Heating & Coolinghttp://www.clovercomfort.com/Anthony Marmoamarmo@clovercomfort.comPO Box 844Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591Phone: (914) 631-6744Fax: (914) 631-3619

 

9. DJH Mechanical Services, Inc.http://www.djhmechanical.com/Sylvia Hazlehurstdhazlehurst@djhmechanical.com155 Kingsbridge Road EastMount Vernon, NY 10550Phone: 914-699-6767Fax: 914-699-6865Double RA Construction Corp.http://www.doubleraconstruction.com/Maria

 

10. Verderamedoubleraconst@aol.com9 Jean LaneRye Brook, NY 10573Phone: 914-939-7710Fax: 914-939-5991

 

11. Hudson Insulation of New York, LLC  http://www.hudsoninsulation.com/Matthew Daviemattj@hudsoninsulation.com744 McDonald AveBrooklyn, NY 11218Phone: (718) 435-5277Fax: (718) 853-0582

 

12. Hudson Valley Energy Consultants, Inc.  http://www.myenergyaudits.com/ 

Peter Bell, pbell@myenergyaudits.com1052 Mamaroneck Avenue Mamaroneck, NY 10543 Phone: 877-773-2432Fax: 845-278-8761

 

13. Insulex, Inchttp://www.insulex.net/ Rob Haven, sinfo@insulex.net, 105 East 63 St., Suite 6DNew York, NYPhone: (212) 421-1900

 

14. Northfield Home Performance, Inc. Jim Reilly, rycan106@aol.com, 160 Heberton AvenueStaten Island, NY 10302Phone: (718) 442-7351Fax: (718) 442-8383

 

15. Richmond Aluminum Supply, Inc. Robert Foley, rafoley@richmondaluminum.com26 Watchogue RoadStaten Island, NY 10314Phone: (718) 698-5880Fax: (718) 370-0705

 

 

Training Providers

1. Association for Energy Affordability, Charlie Fritsch,

 

2. Bronx Community College Center for Sustainable Energy, Jill Cotter

 

3. Community Environmental Center/Solar One

 

4. Consortium for Worker Education (in development)

 

5. US Green Building Council (in development)

 

6. 32BJ Thomas Shortman Training Fund

 

7. Steven Winter Associates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix:  Urban Forestry

 

 

Employers:

 

1. City of New York/Dept of Parks & Restoration

Contact: Jennifer Greenfeld

Email/Phone: Jennifer.Greenfeld@parks.nyc.gov             

Size: Approximately 5,000 (?)

Scope of Operation: 5-borough; more than 29,000 acres of NYC Parkland

Labor Market: Skilled; varying combinations of academic credentials and work experience accepted

 

2. New York Restoration Project

Contact: Barrett Robinson             

Email/Phone:  BRobinson@nyrp.org

Size: Approximately 65

Scope of Operation: 5-borough; MillionTreesNYC; maintenance agreements with NYC Parks; NYC community gardens

Labor Market: Skilled; all current forestry staff have at least a baccalaureate, and many have a master’s degree as well

 

Training and Career Ladder Opportunities:

 

1. City of New York/Dept. of Parks & Recreation

Program Name: Parks Opportunity Program (POP)

Contact: Annika Holder, Chief of the Parks Opportunity Program

Email: Annika.Holder@parks.nyc.gov

Scope of Training: The Parks Opportunity Program is one of the nation’s largest transitional employment programs–with approximately 3,000 trainees working in New York City’s parks, playgrounds, and recreation centers.  For 6 months, POP participants receive intensive skills training in one of five areas: security, custodial, clerical, handyman/ fix-it or horticulture. Training is supplemented by classroom workshops in computer literacy, grafitti removal, plant identification, pest control, basic electrical and plumbing skills, floor care and sheet rock installation. POP participants have the opportunity to attend weekly on-site classes in basic education, GED preparation, and English as a Second Language. Participants can also receive licensing and certification in the following: regular and commercial driver training, NYS Eight-Hour Security pre-assignment, First Aid and CPR. POP horticulture trainees are knowledgeable in: plant and tree identification; planting and mulching; pruning of shrubs and trees; flower bed installation; pest control and fertilization techniques

Annual Capacity: approximately 3,000

 

2. New York Restoration Project/NYC Parks Department

Program Name: MillionTreesNYC Training Program

Contacts: Paulina Mohamed PMohamed@parks.nyc.gov (NYRP); Brian Aucoin Brian.Aucoin@parks.nyc.gov (DPR)

Scope of Training: 7-month, full-time, paid program for young adults who want to gain on-the-job training in the fields of Community Forestry; Landscape Design and Installation; or Arboriculture.  The landscape design and installation track is hosted by NYRP, while the other two tracks are hosted by the NYC Parks Department.  Participants will leave with certifications and skills required to secure a job within their chosen area of specialization.

Annual Capacity: 32 – note: this is a pilot run of the program, so all program details are subject to change.

 

 

Appendix:  Green Manufacturing

 

Taken From:  Manufacturing Green: Producing a Sustainable NYC (2006) & Building Green: New Business Opportunities for NYC Manufacturers (2005) by NYIRN and ITAC.

 

Challenges

• The manufacturing sector in NYC is comprised of small businesses that lack the capacity to engage in substantial marketing programs and access major decision-making bodies.

 

• Going green effects everything – product development, processes and materials – and can be challenging for small businesses

 

• Marketing and education – many manufacturers are unaware of the resources available to them or don’t know how to navigate the complex maze of loans, grants, tax incentives, research partnerships and product analysis and testing
   

Technical and production issues

• Product costs and financing – they lack resources to tap City, State and Federal programs that help with financing R&D and other assistance
   

• Business transition issues – potential customers – architects and developers – are unaware of the green manufacturers located in the community or the availability of their products. They also have difficulty overcoming the institutionalized culture of contractors and installers who prefer tried and true products and methods

 

Solutions/recommendations

• Establish marketing programs for NYC firms
• Tailor business district assistance toward helping firms make sustainable transitions
• Facilitate product research and development for NYC firms; Provide new and improved financial tools for NYC firms to purchase new equipment and remain cost-competitive
• Work to establish pro-urban manufacturing policies to facilitate production in NYC
• Create new types of assistance programs are needed to enable firms to engage in more complex product and process alterations. Economic development organizations with an emphasis on green growth can serve as “special matchmakers” to connect local businesses to needed services.
• The city should invest in its recycling infrastructure so more companies can harvest locally recycled materials for use in their industrial processes.
  
  NYC architect/design community is very large and difficult for smaller firms to penetrate the market. Understanding how architects specify products is essential to successful marketing.

 

Growth products: non-concrete

• Masonry & stonework
• Metal fabrication
• Non-wood finishes
• Lighting
• Interior finishes/ woodworking

 

Opportunities:

• NYC can transform the manufacturing sector into a network of sustainable companies that produce environmentally friendly products needed to construct and furnish the offices, schools and residences of a green NYC.

 

• there is a need for toxic-free, recycled-content, medium density fiberboard. NYC has a tremendous amount of waste wood that is currently not reclaimed in a valuable way. Investigate linkages with recycling programs. 

 

Appendix:  Transportation

MTA Training

• Transit Tech Career and Technical Education High School

1 WELLS STREET, BROOKLYN, NY 11208
Phone: 718-647-5204

Student Enrollment:1611

Grades Served:09, 10, 11, 12, SE

 

• Transport Workers Union of America AFL-CIO (TWU)

Education & Research Department
1700 Broadway, second floor, New York, NY 10019

212-259-4944,  b-wechsler@twu.org, website: www.twu.org

The Education Department provides training and educational services to TWU local unions. Working with International staff, local union officers, and local union education committees, the department designs programs tailored to the needs of local unions. These programs might include grievance handling for shop stewards or leadership training for local officers.

 

The department also offers programs at the AFL-CIO's George Meany Center for Labor Studies for local union officers. These programs are announced through mailings to all locals and prospective candidates are nominated by the local unions. The week-long residential programs are held at the Meany Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. Since the Department began using the Meany Center in 1994, TWU has trained over 750 local union officers in different leadership skills.

 

Transit, Utility, University and Services Division: There are far more similarities than differences among workers in various locals in this Division. We represent school bus drivers throughout the country as well as City Transit Drivers and Mechanics from New York to San Francisco. Along with the College Campus Workers at Columbia and Barnard and Utility Workers at KeySpan, we also represent Workers at the New York-New Jersey Port Authority and at municipalities in South Jersey and Pennsylvania.
 

              Railroad Division: Turbulent times continue for TWU's Railroad Division and most rail unions despite strong profits in the freight railroad industry and increasing popularity of Amtrak for business and pleasure travel. The challenges came from several fronts, including a Congress more concerned about an elusive balanced budget than the future of the nation's only intercity passenger railroad; and greedy managements driven by ever higher profit margins rather than the good and welfare of those who earned the profit for them. Despite these serious problems, the Railroad Division's membership numbers have remained stable, and we have chalked up important victories.

 

More Info on the MTA
MTA has over 68,000 employees; Located in and provides public transportation services in New York City through Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut.

• MTA Headquarters, MTAHR@MTAHQ.ORG, website: https://employment.mta.info/psc/hph1/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/ROLE_APPLICANT.ER_APPLICANT_HOME.GBL?NAVSTACK=Clear&
• MTA NYCT, website: http://www.mta.info/nyct/hr/netpost.htm
• MTA Bus Company, website: http://mta.info/busco/jobs.htm
• Long Island Rail Road, LIRRHR@LIRR.ORG, website: http://mta.info/libus/employment/employmentindex.htm
• Metro-North Railroad, 1-800-638-7646 or (212) 532-4900 (in NYC), website: http://mta.info/bandt/employ/netpost1.htm
• Capital Construction, HR@MTACC.INFO, website: https://ww1.metronorthinfo.com:2101/psp/JOBSATMNR/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/ROLE_APPLICANT.ER_APPLICANT_HOME.GBL?NAVSTACK=Clear

Appendix: Environmental Monitoring & Remediation

 

Core Knowledge and Skills for Environmental Technology Programs

 

Advanced Technology Environmental Education Center (http://www.ateec.org/) ATEEC has developed a list of science, math, and technical knowledge and skills for students interested in a career in environmental technology. The assumption underlying this list was that workers/practitioners in any environmental occupation must have acquired certain science, math, and technical skills. Although ATEEC does not claim that the knowledge and skills statements are standards, these "core" concepts assure industry that program graduates have an adequate academic foundation.

 

The core math, science, and technical knowledge and skills emerged from an analysis of tasks listed in DACUM (Developing A CurriculUM) charts for the following six environmental occupations:

• Hazardous Materials Management Technician
• Safety and Health Coordinator
• Sampling and Monitoring Technician
• Spill Response and Environmental Cleanup Technician
• Waste Management Specialist
• Water and Wastewater Treatment Operator

 

Again, these environmental occupations can relate to potential jobs associated with EPA's Brownfields Economic Initiative. The ATEEC knowledge and skills statements provide a basis for developing performance objectives for environmental technology courses. Keep in mind, however, that the knowledge and skills should be considered a "work in progress" as environmental jobs are dynamic. Skills and knowledge sets are likely to change with new technology.

 

ATEEC believes that every type of environmental technology program should include the following topics either as units of study or as full courses:

• A basic literacy about environmental technologies and issues (e.g., technologies such as bioremediation, pollution prevention, and incineration, and issues such as climate change and water quality)
• Compliance with environmental regulations
• Environmental health and safety
• Environmental sampling and monitoring

 

Inclusion of these topics within the curriculum, even if a topic is not part of a particular occupation, enables a graduate to possess a basic literacy about the environmental field at large. That basic literacy helps the graduate to be a "generalist," which not only is valued by many employers but also increases the graduate's flexibility in moving on to different emphases within the field.

 

ATEEC recommends that the technical core of any environmental technology curriculum include the opportunity for students to be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid, and in Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER). These certifications are often required by employers.

 

Best Practices in Technical Skills

 

In the report, Best Practices for Job Training Programs in Brownfields Redevelopment Initiatives, the EPA-funded Brownfields Job Development and Training grantees identified the following best practices in technical skills:

• Provide awareness of and reasons for health and safety issues.
• Conduct participatory, hands-on training.
• Demonstrate proper use of personal protection equipment.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills (technical writing, oral presentations, and reading).
• Provide a general knowledge of environmental regulations.
• Provide overview of Superfund and Brownfields.
• Provide hazard awareness training.
• Incorporate information on innovative remediation technologies.
• Provide fundamental geology course.
• Incorporate team-building skills.
• Provide an internship/co-op experience.
• Utilize team leaders/advisors to support participant throughout technical training.
• Award certificate after training is completed.
• Determine the top three or four environmental problems in order to determine training needs.
• Develop and integrate critical thinking and problem solving skills into activities and exercises.
• Cross-train participants (e.g. lead, asbestos, radon).
• Continuously evaluate "pollutant of the year."
• Incorporate representatives from state organizations in training development.
• Provide skills needed for research and attention to details.

 

Employability Skills

 

In the report, Best Practices for Job Training Programs in Brownfields Redevelopment Initiatives, the EPA-funded Brownfields Job Development and Training grantees considered the following to be best practices in employability skills:

• Teach participants how to complete a job application.
• Assist participants in completing a resume and stress the importance of keeping it up to date.
• Conduct mock job interviews to develop skills.
• Stress the importance of attendance and punctuality, and track attendance.
• Develop specific plan to help participants improve skills and work ethic.
• Add attendance sheets to portfolio.
• Develop list of references during training experience.
• Provide general life survival skills.
• Stress manners, how to dress, and etiquette.
• Negotiate ways to clear or pay past traffic fines and other fines and civic responsibility.
• Improve communication skills; for example, ask student to explain why he or she should be hired.
• Reinforce that a positive internship establishes a solid foundation for future employment.
• Provide business structure as part of the program.
• Incorporate civic responsibility into program.
• Stress drug testing in the program.
• Provide an understanding of liability for employer.
• Incorporate conflict management skills into program.
• Send participant to multiple interviews to get practice and improve interview skills.
• Videotape interviews to provide feedback.

 

Grantees of EPA's Brownfields Job Development and Training program identified best practices for sustainable employment. The grantees identified best practices in ten areas, which were captured in chart form and included in the Best Practices for Job Training Programs in Brownfields Redevelopment Initiatives report. The best practices identified in the area of labor market assessment are:

• Hire someone to conduct labor market assessment (LMA) and present information to committees.
• Conduct LMA survey.
• Form advisory committee with local employers (e.g., engineering firms).
• Recruit people on advisory committee who may hire your graduates.
• Have signed agreements with employers to hire graduates.
• Partner with employment agencies.
• Partner with workforce development agencies.
• Contact and involve appropriate federal agencies (e.g., labor, commerce) in assessment pilot project.
• Involve mayor's office.
• Develop information network.
• Involve just-in-time staffing operations.
• Form alliances with organized labor.
• Tie in JTPA funding with new technology.