Title
Calling on the Committee on the Environment and the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development to hold joint hearings on adopting a Green Job Corps to help Philadelphia create a qualified, trained workforce to support local green businesses and contractors.
Body
WHEREAS, The City Council of Philadelphia exists to promote the welfare of citizens, and recognizes that high and rising energy prices cause great economic and social harm to our citizens and to the quality of life in our City; and
WHEREAS, Recently the City of Oakland embarked on establishing the creation of the Green Jobs Corp Program, receiving $250,000 from their City Council to begin the program; and
WHEREAS, The Oakland's Green Job Corps Program, creates jobs and strengthens the economy while addressing environmental challenges and trends; and
WHEREAS, Piloting this program would create long-term, sustainable capacity in Philadelphia to support equitable and environmentally sustainable economic growth; and
WHEREAS, Green jobs can prepare young adults to create a qualified, trained workforce in Philadelphia to support the growth and success of local green businesses and contractors; and
WHEREAS, These jobs provide new opportunities for young adults with barriers to employment, who may not otherwise have jobs and careers in the green economy; and
WHEREAS, Any green job program should target and recruit veterans, displaced workers, and at-risk young people to provide them with an additional tool in becoming employed; and
WHEREAS, The Green Jobs Act, introduced in the United States Congress, signed into law in December 2007, allocating $125 million for green-collar job development, including $25 million for "green pathways out of poverty, would help prepare workers from coast to coast for national and state job programs to train workers in energy efficient buildings and construction, renewable electric power, energy efficient vehicles and other green industries; and
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