The agreement provides financial assistance to groundwork rhode island to conduct environmental activities in disadvanatged communities in providence, RI as a part of the southeast new england program…

This Cooperative Agreement award of $300,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 under the Geographic Programs - Southeast New England Coastal Watershed Restoration Program (CFDA 66.129) provides funding to Groundwork Rhode Island to conduct environmental activities and workforce development programs in disadvantaged communities in Providence, RI.

The key activities supported by this award include: 1) the "Storm Crew" program, which will identify low-barrier tasks to support stormwater management and water quality goals while employing job training program graduates in collaboration with the Providence Department of Public Works; and 2) the "Canopy Crew" program, an 8-week green industry job training focused on tree stewardship, work readiness and environmental justice for formerly incarcerated Rhode Islanders. Groundwork Rhode Island will provide subawards to the Providence Neighborhood Planting Program and Garden Time to implement these training programs as part of the community workforce development initiative. The overall project aims to strengthen climate resilience, expand access to green space, and foster social and environmental equity in underserved communities in Providence.

The agreement provides financial assistance to groundwork rhode island to conduct environmental activities in disadvanatged communities in providence, RI as a part of the southeast new england program (snep) opportunity to advance resilience as outlined in the application. This award will work with partners including the providence neighborhood planting program (pnpp), garden time, and the city of providence department of public works (DPW) and parks forestry division, to strengthen existing and launch new workforce training and employment programs focused on making providence more climate-ready and resilient.activities:1) storm crew: a stormwater-focused workforce development program that will identify low-barrier tasks that can support stormwater management, improved drainage, and water quality goals, while employing job training program graduates in collaboration with the providence department of public works. 2) canopy crew: an off-shoot of garden time's (project partner) green reentry job training program, an 8-week green industry job training focused on tree stewardship, work readiness and environmental justice for formerly incarcerated rhode islanders. Green reentry trains 24 individuals per year in technical skills related to tree care and other green industries through a mix of classroom and hands-on instruction.subrecipient:groundwork rhode island will provide subawards to providence neighborhood planting program and garden time to implement training programs as parts of the community workforce training and employment program for this project.outcomes:this project will focus on fulfilling the outcomes of: - communities support and implement resilient development that protects populated areas and vulnerable infrastructure through nature-based solutions and climate adaptation approaches. - communities ensure widespread access to local greenspace to support mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. - the region establishes policies to foster social/climate equity and eliminate disproportionate harmful impacts to environmental justice (EJ) and underserved communities in the region.