Chicago Organizations Launch Green-Collar Jobs Initiative

The Chicagoland Green Collar Jobs Initiative was founded in September 2007 and is a collaboration of sustainable and educational organizations whose focuses include: workforce development, sustainable business initiatives, labor, environmental education and green building leaders. The founding groups are, LEED Council, Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance, Wilbur Wright College, Chicago Federation of Labor- Workers Assistance Committee, City of Chicago - Department of Environment, Delta Institute, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, US Green Building Council - Chicago Chapter, BIG: Blacks in Green. Other organizations have joined this initiative as information about its activities have become more widespread.

In December of 2007 the Initiative held its first Green Collar Jobs Summit at Wilbur Wright College (one of the City Colleges of Chicago). 175 people convened for a meeting where they interacted with speakers from the East and West coast and local organizations involved in Green Collar job creation and workforce development.

The primary objectives of the Initiative are to research and connect green collar jobs, employers and workforce development/job training to begin development of a green jobs model similar to existing East and West Coast Initiatives. The initiative explores and identifies employment and job training that will prepare workers for emerging green jobs related to sustainability, natural resource conservation and environmental related technology.

Based on initial research, some of these prevalent jobs include: energy raters for homes and commercial buildings; green cleaning and building maintenance staff; alternative energy service providers (solar, wind, geo-thermal); installer/ maintenance of storm water management systems (green roof, permeable pavement, rain water collection), urban agriculture (landscaping, farming, apiculture) and green-related services (recycling, retail, manufacturing). For the purpose of the research organization, the initiative has identified four green-collar job sectors:

• Urban Agriculture and Horticulture
• Building Construction, Operations & Maintenance
• Green Products and Services
• Energy Efficiency & Alternative Energy

In 2008, the Initiative will complete research and outreach in order to better understand job creation potential, incumbent worker retraining needs, and the capacities of current training programs in the green collar sector. In 2009 it will focus on selecting two promising job types and drafting a model program development plan. The model will identify program components to be developed including job readiness, participant support services, career counseling, training classes that link existing programs as well as new classes to be developed on a career path, curriculum development needs, employment, retention and advancement training. Strong emphasis will be on mapping a career path and gaining the training, credentials and work experience necessary to advance.

The Chicagoland Green Collar Jobs Initiative plans to create an on-line Resource Hub, featuring information about potential jobs, training programs and potential employees.

Excerpted from Green-Collar Jobs in America’s Cities by Green for All, the Apollo Alliance, Center for American Progress, and Center on Wisconsin Strategy. Published March 2008