Colleges, Universities May Participate in New Competitive Green Career Programs

Washington, June 25 — Institutions of higher education (IHEs) may be eligible to participate in several just-released U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) stimulus grants designed to train individuals for green-sector jobs.

The Pathways Out of Poverty program will provide $150 million in awards ranging from $2 million to $8 million each for projects that provide low-income individuals — including high school dropouts — with job training and placement services for green-sector jobs.

Officials are particularly seeking projects that integrate training and support services into "cohesive" programs. Funding will be awarded to projects carried out by strategic partnerships that include, at minimum, nonprofit organizations; the public workforce investment system; the education and training community; labor organizations; and employers and industry-related organizations.