The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) published the first annual report updating the progress of the Green Jobs – Green New York Act (GJGNY), which was signed into law on October 9, 2009. The Act included directives to create a loan fund for energy efficiency services, establish energy audit standards, provide green job employment and training services and more.

 

The Green Jobs Green New York Act set aside $112 million in funding with $8 million designated to workforce development. The funds from the Act will help the state expand existing training centers run by local organizations. The expansion will come in the form of new training equipment, tools and a reassessment of the field tests and certification exam process. These training programs will provide direct-entry, on-the-job training, apprenticeships and internships to qualified individuals.

 

The workforce development group will work to bring new opportunities to unemployed, underemployed and undeserved communities. The process typically begins with an individual seeking information at a one-stop career center or the DSS Employment Services office. Once a skills assessment is completed, the individual is then either referred for placement or routed to one of the state’s workforce training programs for career planning and skills training. Upon successful completion of the green jobs training program, the individual would then be given a job referral.

 

The GJGNY Advisory Council and the New York State Department of Labor collaborated on a new website, Green Careers New York, to help facilitate the process of finding green jobs in the state. The website is an online portal that provides those looking for employment with both green jobs information and referrals to green job training programs. Whether an individual has completed a green jobs training program and is actively seeking employment or just wants to learn more about green job opportunities, the Green Careers New York website is a great place to start.

 

The green job training programs are just one facet of the GJGNY legislation. To learn more about the Act, download the October 2010 Green Jobs – Green New York Annual Report (PDF).