[Durham INC] Durham Seeks Green Jobs Training Applicants

[Blalock, Amy]

CITY OF DURHAM

Office of Public Affairs

101 City Hall Plaza

Durham, NC 27701

 

 

News Release

 

For Details, Contact:

Amy Blalock

Sr. Public Affairs Specialist

(919) 560-4123 x 11253

(919) 475-7735 (cell)

Amy.Blalock at durhamnc.gov

 

For Immediate Release:  November 4, 2010

 

 

Durham Seeks Applicants for Green Jobs Training

Winter Class Limited to 30 Participants; Deadline to Apply is November
30

 

DURHAM, N.C. - Young fathers and mothers in Durham interested in
pursuing a career in the green construction trades should submit their
applications by November 30 to participate in the Durham Green
Construction Training Program.

 

The program, set to begin the week of February 7, 2011, is based on a
grant awarded by the U.S. Conference of Mayors/Wal-Mart Foundation to
Builders of Hope, a local nonprofit green affordable housing developer,
in partnership with the City of Durham. Its purpose is to train up to 60
pregnant or parenting fathers and mothers between the ages of 16 and 24
in the green construction trades. Participants will be working on-site
throughout the course, learning the basics of framing, carpentry,
worksite safety, construction equipment use, deconstruction and
reconstruction of rescued homes, and green energy fit ups. The
construction sites will be in local neighborhoods, such as in Northeast
Central Durham or the Lyon Park community.  

 

The City of Durham's Office of Economic and Workforce Development, in
collaboration with Builders of Hope, is hosting an orientation session
for potential applicants interested in attending the Winter Class of the
Green Construction Training Program on Thursday November 11, 2010, from
5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Holton Career and Resource Center , located at
401 N. Driver Street, Durham.

 

According to James Dickens, employment program coordinator with the
City's Office of Economic and Workforce Development, the objective of
the Green Construction Training Initiative is to train 60 individuals
each year in green construction disciplines and place at least 80
percent of them in local green jobs or within the green construction
trades.  

 

"New for this class, we have added a green landscaping component to the
program, which will lead directly to our participants entering
on-the-job training where students will be paid during training and
their internship," Dickens said. "Our labor market information indicates
that the average starting salaries for our participants that
successfully complete the program could be between $11 to $13 per hour.
So, I hope our young parents who need employment take note of this
opportunity and submit their applications to participate."

 

According to Dickens, young parents living in Northeast Central Durham
are particularly encouraged to apply, but all applications from city
residents will be accepted for review. The Winter Class is limited to
only 30 participants, so initial criteria that will be used to evaluate
applicants include:

*         16 to 24 years of age 

*         Pregnant or parenting 

*         Ability to lift 25 pounds and perform tasks requiring physical
labor

*         Pass drug screening 

*         High school diploma or GED (or be enrolled in such a program
to participate in training)

*         Students may also be screened to identify basic reading and
math skills 

 

Participants interesting in applying for the Winter Class or attending
the orientation session on November 11 should contact Dickens by e-mail
at james.dickens at durhamnc.gov or by calling (919) 560-4965, ext. 15217.
An application and course flyer are also available on the City's website
at www.DurhamNC.gov/departments/eed/news.cfm. 

 

About the Office of Economic and Workforce Development

The City of Durham's Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD)
seeks to increase the city's tax base through several revitalization
initiatives, including new development efforts in the central city area.
The department also identifies and recruits target industries as well as
assesses and trains Durham residents to fill new jobs.  For more
information, visit www.DurhamEconomicDevelopment.org. 

 

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