THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY ADVANCEMENT INNOVATION (OAI) TO RECRUIT, TRAIN, AND PLACE UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO IN ENVIRONMENTAL CAREERS WITH SKILLS NEEDED TO SAFELY CONDUCT REMEDIATION WORK AT SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE-CONTAMINATED SITES, AS WELL AS APPROPRIATE TRAINING IN WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT AND CHEMICAL SAFETY. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO FOSTER BOTH ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND STEWARDSHIP IN PARTICIPANTS AND IN THE COMMUNITY.