Cooperative Agreement 95308301

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA) (PL 117-58) FOR PITTSBURGH CONSERVATION CORPS TO RECRUIT, TRAIN, AND PLACE UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED RESIDENTS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA 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 AND STORM WATER MANAGEMENT. HARD SKILLS TRAINING FOCUSES UPON TWO MAIN AREAS: ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND TOOLS AND SAFETY; SPECIAL TRAINING IN CHAIN SAW SAFETY, FIRST AID CERTIFICATION, HAZWOPER, AND NGICP ARE ALL INCLUDED. FOLLOWING THE 7-WEEK TRAINING, CREW MEMBERS MAY BE HIRED BY THE RECIPIENT'S EMPLOYMENT SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, AND ARE DEPLOYED ON JOB SITES TO RECEIVE FURTHER ON-THE-JOB TRAINING IN GSI, WOODLAND TRAILS, HABITAT RESTORATION, AND VACANT LOT MANAGEMENT. ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL TRAIN GRADUATES TO LEARN SKILLS AND CERTIFICATIONS NECESSARY TO ENTER INTO ENVIRONMENTAL CAREERS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING UNDER THIS PROJECT ARE SPECIAL TRAINING IN CHAIN SAW SAFETY, FIRST AID CERTIFICATION, HAZWOPER, AND NGICP ARE ALL INCLUDED. FOLLOWING THE 7-WEEK TRAINING, CREW MEMBERS MAY BE HIRED BY RECIPIENT'S EMPLOYMENT SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, AND ARE DEPLOYED ON JOB SITES TO RECEIVE FURTHER ON-THE-JOB TRAINING IN GSI, WOODLAND TRAILS, HABITAT RESTORATION, AND VACANT LOT MANAGEMENT. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE TRAINING TO PEOPLE WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA. BENEFICIARIES WILL BE PEOPLE WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA. THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES FOR ARE: 35 INDIVIDUALS RECRUITED, TRAINED, CERTIFIED, AND PLACED IN ENVIRONMENTAL CAREERS IN COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES AND FACILITIES; 4 CLASSROOM STYLE TRAININGS, PRACTICAL TRAININGS, AND CURRICULA MODULES; 4 APPROPRIATE CERTIFICATIONS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND SITE CLEANUP METHODS; AND, 51 INDIVIDUALS THAT RECEIVE CERTIFICATIONS IN OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 40-HOUR HAZWOPER TRAINING. EXPECTED OUTCOMES FROM THIS PROJECT INCLUDE HELPING 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; PROVIDING TRAINING THAT LEADS TO SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD; IMPROVING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND STIMULATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTRUCTIVE PARTNERSHIPS; REDUCING EXPOSURES TO HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF WORKERS, OCCUPANTS, AND RESIDENTS; FOSTERING SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND ENHANCE THE SKILLS AND AVAILABILITY OF LABOR FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION; AND, ENABLING RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROMOTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY, BOTH ON THE JOB AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.