US Labor Department announces $2 million grant competition to train veterans in green jobs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service has announced a $2 million grant competition under the Veterans' Workforce Investment Program to assist eligible veterans by providing employment, training, support services, credentialing and networking information in renewable and sustainable energy.

"We have an obligation to our service men and women to do everything we can to help them transition smoothly into civilian life," said Secretary Hilda L. Solis. "These grants will not only help our veterans, they will provide an invaluable service to a burgeoning part of our economy. Veterans deserve good jobs, and green jobs are good jobs."

VWIP grants are intended to provide services to assist in reintegrating eligible veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force and to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex employability problems facing eligible veterans.

The department will give priority to workforce development projects that focus on connecting target populations to career pathways and training programs that will prepare veterans for careers in any of the seven energy efficiency and renewable energy industry categories defined in the Workforce Investment Act, which include:

1. Energy-efficient building, construction and retrofit industries.
2. Renewable electric power industry.
3. Energy efficient and advanced drive train vehicle industry.
4. Bio-fuels industry.
5. Deconstruction and materials use industries.
6. Energy efficiency assessment industry serving the residential, commercial or industrial sectors.
7. Manufacturers that produce sustainable products using environmentally sustainable processes and materials.

In addition to the industries listed above, applicants may propose strategies that focus on employment and training opportunities related to the growth and enhancement of emerging green industries that clean and enhance our environment.

For more information on this solicitation, visit http://www.grants.gov/ and http://www.dol.gov/vets.