This project provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) for gwri- groundwork rhode island to conduct eligible technical assistance-related activities as…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 awarded Groundwork Rhode Island a $500,000 Cooperative Agreement under the Brownfields Job Training Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.815), effective May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2030. Funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), this award supports workforce development activities authorized under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Section 104(k)(7).

Groundwork Rhode Island will recruit, train, and place unemployed and underemployed Rhode Island residents in environmental careers through a comprehensive job training program. The initiative provides certifications and skills training in hazardous waste management, remediation work, and green infrastructure, including OSHA Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) certification, OSHA 10 Construction Site Safety, Lead Renovation/Remodeling/Painting certifications, brownfields and soil sampling introduction, stormwater management, emergency planning, chemical safety, and urban forestry programs. Graduates will acquire the technical competencies and industry-recognized credentials necessary to secure employment conducting remediation and cleanup activities at contaminated sites while supporting Rhode Island's environmental workforce development objectives.

This project provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) for gwri- groundwork rhode island to conduct eligible technical assistance-related activities as authorized by comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act (CERCLA) 104(K)(7). The recipient will recruit, train, and place unemployed and underemployed residents of rhode island in environmental careers with skills needed to safely conduct remediation work at solid and hazardous waste-contaminated sites, as well as appropriate training in green remediation technologies, storm water management, emergency planning and chemical safety OSHA hazwoper (ENGLISH/SPANISH), OSHA 10 - construction site safety (ENGLISH/SPANISH), lead renovator, remodeler, painter, intro to brownfields/soil sampling, center for watershed protection clean water certificate (ACCREDITED), urban tree stewards, providence tree keepers. Gwri- groundwork rhode island will use the funds to continue the successful implementation of our job training program that focuses on hazardous waste management, lead abatement, sustainable landscaping, and stormwater management. Activities:this project will train graduates to earn skills and certifications necessary to enter into environmental careers. Activities to be performed during under this project are in environmental careers with skills needed to safely conduct remediation work at solid and hazardous waste-contaminated sites, as well as appropriate training in green remediation technologies, storm water management, emergency planning and chemical safety OSHA hazwoper (ENGLISH/SPANISH), OSHA 10 - construction site safety (ENGLISH/SPANISH), lead renovator, remodeler, painter, intro to brownfields/soil sampling, center for watershed protection clean water certificate (ACCREDITED), urban tree stewards, providence tree keepers that students will earn which can be found in the training curriculum in grant recipient's application. Also, the recipient will report on interim progress and final accomplishments by completing and submitting relevant portions of the job training form using EPA's assessment, cleanup and redevelopment exchange system (ACRES). This project will provide training to residents of providence and pawtucket primarily, as well as surrounding communities including central falls, woonsocket, johnston, warwick, west warwick, and cranston. Subrecipient:our coalition member, garden time, will receive a subaward of $100,000 divided into portions based on its number of training and student outputs each year. Garden time will invoice gwri for reimbursement and show how funds have been spent on eligible expenses. Subaward funds will be combined with other funding to run green reentry.outcomes:this project will provide training to residents of providence and pawtucket primarily, as well as surrounding communities including central falls, woonsocket, johnston, warwick, west warwick, and cranston the anticipated deliverables are: 72 of individuals recruited, trained, certified, and placed in environmental careers in communities impacted by solid and hazardous waste sites and facilities; 9 of classroom style trainings, practical trainings, and curricula modules; 7 of appropriate certifications in environmental sampling and site cleanup methods; 72 of individuals that receive certifications in occupational safety and health administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.120 40-hour hazwoper training. Expected outcomes from this project include: -help residents of communities take advantage of jobs created by the assessment and cleanup of brownfields and the assessment, cleanup, and management of solid and hazardous waste sites and facilities while addressing sustainable community revitalization concerns. -provide training that leads to sustainable employment in the environmental field. -improve community involvement and stimulate the development of constructive partners