Center for Working Families Receives EPA Jobs Creation Grant

The Center for Working Families will receive a grant of up to $300,000 to recruit, train, and place unemployed residents who live in intown neighborhoods struggling with environmental issues, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Congressman John Lewis. 

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said earlier this month that the center, at 477 Windsor St., and 20 other governmental agencies and non-profit organizations in 20 states will receive a total of $6.2 million to train people to safely clean contaminated sites.

The money also will train individuals in other environment-related skills, such as recycling center operator training, green building design, energy efficiency, weatherization, solar installation, construction and demolition debris recycling, emergency response, and native plant revegetation.

 “I am very proud of the Center for Working Families for positioning itself to receive a federal grant," Rep. John Lewis said.

Lewis said the federal government has very strenuous standards that must be met in order to receive federal money. The center must have submitted a very impressive application, he said, to receive federal support and the money will help the city work on two important issues—jobs and environmental clean-up.

Said Lewis, "I hope this is just the beginning of the Obama Administration’s commitment to funding opportunities in alternative energy.”