A $1 million federal grant will help train 200 low-income DeKalb County residents to land green jobs.
U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) announced the grant Tuesday as part of the Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Under the grant, Goodwill Industries International will work with county agencies to train and help residents find work. The program will target 200 residents in south DeKalb who are unemployed, particularly people who are disabled, older, homeless or high school dropouts, Johnson said.
“These grants will help workers in our communities gain access to jobs of the future,” Johnson said in a statement. “And the valuable training they receive can help them out of poverty and promote self-sufficiency through employment in renewable energy industries.”
The grant, part of the Pathways Out of Poverty program, will provide job skills and placement for careers in weatherization, construction and solar energy. After landing a job, Goodwill will help the residents retain employment and advance in the industry, Johnson said.
DeKalb Technical College, DeKalb Workforce Development, St. Philip AME Church, the Housing Authority of DeKalb County and Southface Energy Institute will help with the training.
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