SACRAMENTO – Assembly Labor & Employment Chairman Sandré R. Swanson (D-Oakland) has made Green Jobs a priority this legislative season.  His bill,
AB 2147, will establish the Green Jobs Corps Grant Program, which will implement an energy efficiency and renewable energy worker training program that will specifically target individuals seeking employment pathways out of poverty and into economic self-sufficiency. 

"We have a tremendous opportunity in California for job growth in the 'green' economy," stated Swanson.  "However, we need to match up that opportunity with those members of our communities most in need of jobs, including at-risk youth and formerly incarcerated individuals.  That is why I believe this bill is so important.”

The Program will be administered by the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, which will develop application procedures and criteria to award $500,000 in grants to community-based organizations, local agencies, and service providers (or partnerships thereof). These grants will help establish and operate energy efficiency and renewable energy worker training programs for individuals seeking employment pathways out of poverty.

Grants will be funded with State and Federal workforce development and job training funds, and/or funds allocated for rehabilitation and treatment of prison inmates and parolees.  Monies will be awarded to fund programs in urban, suburban, and rural areas of northern, central and southern California.  In determining program need, the Labor Agency will consider demographic data, including unemployment rates and recidivism rates for the intended target populations and the geographic locations of the program.

“The State of California has long been a national and international leader on environmental, natural resource, and energy policy, as well as landmark laws on climate change, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and alternative transportation fuel.  As the green economy grows, there is an increased recognition of and demand for a highly skilled and well-trained “green collar” workforce.  At the same time, we have several segments of California's population who have few legitimate job opportunities because of traditional barriers to employment.  Targeting these groups will allow us to build up this newest of workforces, while providing a very real alternative to poverty and crime,” Assemblymember Swanson remarked.

Toward that end, local entities (including the Oakland Apollo Alliance, the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, and the City of Oakland) have already begun to establish "Green Jobs Corps" programs to train people in the green economy and demonstrate that green economic development is a pathway out of poverty. However, such programs need funding in order to be successful and replicated, and local government often does not have the budget to provide long-term support.  The City of Oakland for example has thus far only been able to provide enough money to establish their local program.

Ian Kim, Director of the Green Jobs campaign of Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, stated, "Assemblymember Swanson clearly understands that public safety is predicated on a strong economy.  Safe, healthy communities will grow from employment opportunities in clean and green industries.  Rather than waste more money on prisons, Mr. Swanson is promoting green pathways out of poverty, providing for green jobs, not jails."

"This is an opportunity to invest in our communities that we cannot afford to pass up," said Swanson.  "The choice is simple.  We can do nothing and continue to pay $46,000 a year to incarcerate individuals who have no hope of a future.  Or we can invest a modest sum in green jobs training programs to help these individuals be self-sufficient and contributing members of society," Swanson concluded.

The bill has already passed the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment earlier this month on a 6-1 vote.  It is now waiting to be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. A hearing date has not yet been set.