Green Job Initiative Getting Underway
The Governor’s Office has approved the funding application of the Texas Foundation for Innovative Communities (TFIC) and Good Company Associates for a Green Job Initiative. Despite all the hype about green jobs, there is little substantive information available. The Green Job Initiative will bring together workforce development boards, community colleges, universities, and the clean energy industry to help answer questions such as:
- What skills and certifications are employers looking for?
- What training programs are available?
- What jobs exist, and where are they being created?
- How can training programs best prepare students for employment in one of these new green jobs?
The long-term objective of the Green Job Initiative is to institutionalize the communications between the clean energy industry and the workforce training support infrastructure (funding and training) to assure the region’s policies and growth strategies associated with sustainable development are not hampered by a shortage of trained workers.
TFIC has a memorandum of understanding in place with the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber’s Green Job Taskforce, the Capital Area Workforce Board, and Austin Community College. TFIC is in the process of working through a joint memorandum with an expanded list of workforce boards and colleges that serve territories ranging from San Antonio to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Under these agreements, TFIC and Good Company will gather industry feedback from clean tech companies for dissemination among participating organizations.
As part of this project, TFIC and Good Company will assemble a state Green Jobs Business Council. The Council will help direct market research, funding priorities, and training development, and will provide direct input to the Green Corridor Collaborative, a set of cooperating regional workforce development boards and colleges.
About the Texas Foundation for Innovative Communities
The Texas Foundation for Innovative Communities is focused on the integration of advanced, energy efficient technologies into the built environment, including the infrastructure that links our homes and businesses. The organization is also developing a Clean Energy Park, where professors, professionals, technicians, and technologists can get experience, experiment, and spin off clean technology and start-up companies.
About Good Company Associates
Good Company Associates is providing staff support to the Texas Foundation for Innovative Communities for the Green Job Initiative. In addition to helping line up a Green Jobs Business Council and coordinating meetings, Good Company will provide more in-depth subject matter expertise on emerging market segments to help direct the resources of the workforce training boards and colleges, which are anxious to respond appropriately to the needs of the emerging market.