This project provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) for limitless vistas, INC

This Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 under the Brownfields Job Training program (CFDA 66.815) provides $650,500 in funding to Limitless Vistas, Inc., a non-profit community development corporation based in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The project aims to recruit, train, and place unemployed and underemployed residents of New Orleans in environmental careers related to the assessment, cleanup, and management of solid and hazardous waste sites and facilities. The training covers skills such as 40-hour HAZWOPER certification, first aid/CPR, environmental sampling, green remediation technologies, stormwater management, and chemical safety. Trainees also receive professional development and Microsoft Office training. The goal is to provide sustainable employment opportunities in environmental remediation while enhancing the skilled labor pool for addressing environmental contamination in impacted communities. The award period is from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2028.

To recruit, train, and place unemployed and underemployed residents of new orleans, orleans parish (COUNTY) 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 [if applicable to specific project, each grantee is different; cite the specific training type that your grantee will be delivering].limitless vistas, INC. (LVI) will use the FY23 environmental workforce development and job training (EWDJT) grant to train dislocated, unemployed, underemployed, low income, minorities, opportunity youth, returning citizens and veterans from new orleans. LVI chose the entirety of new orleans to enable all of those affected by persistent environmental and socio-economic challenges to participate in the proposed program. 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 managed by LVI has used the results of the labor market assessment and survey to develop our curriculum by providing 40-hour hazardous waste and emergency response (HAZWOPER) certification, first aid/CPR/bloodborne pathogens certificates, general knowledge of environmental and conservation work, instilling safety culture by offering occupational safety and health administration (OSHA ) construction outreach training, and improving work ethics by participating in LVI's program. Professional development (AKA soft skills) is offered through another program or provider and is incorporated into everyday training and community service-learning projects. Microsoft office skills are increased through research, preparing reports and presenting presentations related to community service-learning projects, research projects related to brownfields, and other environmental activities. Opportunity youth program: this training program will take place during the day and will take approximately 5 weeks to complete a total of 158 hours of training. The evening program: the evening training program is specifically designed for severely underemployed and unemployed individuals. This program is designed to last 4 weeks for a total of 45 in-class hours.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:this project will provide training to new orleans, orleans parish (COUNTY). The anticipated deliverables for are: 100 of individuals recruited, trained, certified, and placed in environmental careers in communities impacted by solid and hazardous waste sites and facilities. 13 of classroom style trainings, practical trainings, and curricula modules. 4 of appropriate certifications in environmental sampling and site cleanup methods. 100 of individuals that receive certifications in 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 environmental justice concerns. -provide training that leads to sustainable employment in the environmental field. -improve community involvement and stimulate the development of constructive partnerships. -reduce exposures to hazardous substances and other contaminants and improve the health of workers, occupants, and residents. -foster self-sufficiency and enhance the skills and availability of labor for environmental remediation in environmental justice and other communities impacted by environmental contamination. -enable residents to participate in the promotion of environmental health and occupatio