This cooperative agreement provides funding for civic works to recruit, train, and place unemployed and underemployed residents of baltimore county, MD, in environmental careers with skills needed…

The Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 awarded a $200,000 cooperative agreement to Civic Works, Inc. to provide brownfields job training services under the Brownfields Job Training Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.815). Through this award, Civic Works will recruit, train, and place 82 unemployed and underemployed Baltimore County residents in environmental careers by June 2025. Trainees will complete 154 hours of classroom and hands-on training, earning six certifications in hazardous waste handling and remediation. Specifically, the training will provide EPA AHERA supervisor, fall protection, confined space entry, OSHA 30 construction safety, hazard awareness and communication, first aid/CPR certifications. Ninety-six individuals will also receive 40-hour HAZWOPER certification. This brownfields job training program aims to create sustainable employment opportunities for residents of communities impacted by solid and hazardous waste sites while addressing environmental justice concerns.

This cooperative agreement provides funding for civic works to recruit, train, and place unemployed and underemployed residents of baltimore county, MD, 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. The brownfields curriculum consists of 154 contact hours that will be split between classroom study and hands-on fieldwork. Graduates of the program will earn six certifications upon successful completion of the program.activities:the primary activity of the project is to train graduates to earn skills and certifications necessary to enter environmental careers. Specifically, participants will complete the following courses: EPA ahera supervisor certification course, which will result in a federal recognized certification; fall protection certification course, which will result in a federal recognized certification; confined space entry certification course resulting in a federal recognized certification; OSHA 30 construction safety; OSHA hazard awareness and communication; first aid and CPR certification courses; and the hazardous waste site worker protection and emergency response (hazwoper) certification course, which will result in a federal recognized certification.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:this project will provide training to baltimore residents. The beneficiaries of this project are UN-employed and under-employed residents in the target area that have faced barriers to employment. Program participants that complete training will then be placed in employment in the environmental field. The anticipated deliverables are for: 82 individuals recruited, trained, certified, and placed in environmental careers in communities impacted by solid and hazardous waste sites and facilities; six classroom style trainings, practical trainings, and curricula modules; and six certifications in environmental sampling and site cleanup methods. Ninety-six individuals will 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; create sustainable employment in the environmental field; improve community involvement; stimulate the development of constructive partnerships; and reduce exposures to hazardous substances and other contaminants and improve the health of workers, occupants, and residents.