Cooperative Agreement 96385101

THE PURPOSE OF THIS COOPERATIVE GRANT AWARD IS FOR LANDFORCE TO HIRE AND TRAIN PEOPLE WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, USING A RIGOROUSLY DESIGNED CURRICULUM WHICH COVERS BOTH HARD AND SOFT SKILLS, COMBINED WITH ACTUAL EMPLOYMENT STEWARDING PITTSBURGHS DEGRADED LANDS. LANDFORCE WORK IS SEASONAL AND CREW MEMBERS WORK FOR 6 MONTHS. THE ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED WILL INCLUDE ONE COHORT TRAINED AND PLACED IN EMPLOYMENT EACH A YEAR OF THE GRANT AWARD. COHORTS BEGIN WITH A 7-WEEK INTENSIVE PAID TRAINING IN LAND STEWARDSHIP AND WORK READINESS. EVERY CREW MEMBER IS OFFERED ALL TRAININGAND THE CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED BASED ON AREA ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS AND THE EMPLOYEE SKILLS GAPS THEIR EMPLOYER PARTNERS DESCRIBE. HARD SKILLS TRAINING FOCUSES UPON TWO MAIN AREAS: ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, TOOLS AND SAFETY. FOLLOWING THE 7-WEEK TRAINING, CREW MEMBERS JOIN A WORK CREW AND ARE DEPLOYED ON JOB SITES TO WORK ON GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, WOODLAND TRAILS, HABITAT RESTORATION, AND VACANT LOT MANAGEMENT. ADDITIONAL TRAINING IN CHAIN SAW SAFETY, HAZARDOUS WASTE OPERATIONS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND NATIONAL GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM ARE INTEGRATED INTO THE WORK PHASE. LANDFORCE USES SPIRAL LEARNING, REPEATING CONCEPTS IN EVER INCREASING LEVELS OF DIFFICULTY TO REINFORCE LEARNING. ON WORK SITES SITE SUPERVISORS &AND DIRECTOR OF LAND STEWARDSHIP REINFORCE NEW SKILLS, SET EXPECTATIONS, AND PROVIDE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. CREWS WORKING ON COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS BENEFIT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY LIVE WHILE BUILDING A FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES. THE ANTICIPATED OUTPUTS WILL BE TO HAVE 50 PARTICIPANTS ENROLLED IN THE TRAINING (25 PER YEAR), 38 GRADUATES COMPLETING THE PROGRAM (19 PER YEAR), 27 GRADUATES PLACED IN ENVIRONMENTAL POSITIONS, AND 1 GRADUATE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FURTHER EDUCATION. THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES AND BENEFICIARIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1) IMPROVED FUNDAMENTAL WORKFORCE AND JOB SKILLS FOR CREW MEMBERS OVER TIME AS EVIDENCED BY IMPROVEMENTS IN A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED WORK READINESS MEASUREMENT TOOL. AGGREGATE ANNUAL GOALS: 300 HOURS OF DIRECT COACHINGAND COMBINED 3,800 HOURS OF HARD SKILLS AND LIFE SKILLS TRAININGS. 80% OF CREW MEMBERS (IN EXIT SURVEYS AND INTERVIEWS) AGREED THAT THEY LEARNED FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS. 2) INCREASED ABILITY FOR CREW MEMBERS TO FIND AND KEEP JOBS, PARTICULARLY IN GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL JOBS. ANNUAL GOALS: 75% COMPLETE LANDFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM, 90% OF GRADUATES APPLY FOR JOBS, AND 73% ARE OFFERED JOBS OR ENTER FURTHER EDUCATIONAND 80% OF CREW MEMBERS AGREEING THAT LANDFORCE EXPERIENCE BUILDS FUTURE JOB SUCCESS. 3) INCREASED LAND STEWARDSHIP SKILLS FOR LANDFORCE CREW MEMBERS AS EVIDENCED BY PRE-AND POST- TESTING FOR SPECIFIC COURSES. AGGREGATE ANNUAL GOAL: 7,500 HOURS OF ON-THE-JOB STEWARDSHIP. 4) ENHANCED APPRECIATION FOR GREEN ASSETS AND URBAN ENVIRONMENTALISM AMONG CREW MEMBERS. ANNUAL GOAL: 80% OF CREW MEMBERS REPORT IN EXIT INTERVIEWS THEY ARE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, BROWNFIELDS AND POTENTIAL REMEDIATION EFFORTS WITHIN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.