Cooperative Agreement 97795501

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES FUNDING FOR ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO RECRUIT, TRAIN, AND PLACE UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED RESIDENTS OF THE TARGET AREA CONSISTING OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY IN MISSOURI, AND A PORTION OF EAST ST. LOUIS IN ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS, 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 TRAINING PROGRAM PROVIDES EACH PARTICIPANT WITH 166 HOURS ADVANCED TRAINING TOTALING 174-HOUR INSTRUCTION OVER 5-WEEKS IN 3-HOUR ENVIRONMENTAL ORIENTATION; 5-HOUR INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY; THE UNITED STATES OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 29 CFR 1910.120 40-HOUR HAZARDOUS WASTE OPERATIONS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE, 30-HOUR CONSTRUCTION SAFETY AND 8-HOUR 7300 PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE; PLUS UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 64-HOUR HEAVY TRUCK CLASS B COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE AND 24-HOUR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ENDORSEMENT. TO REMOVE EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS, THE PROJECT PAYS FOR DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DRUG TESTING, PHYSICAL, AND RESPIRATORY CLEARANCE REQUIRED TO TAKE THE HEAVY TRUCK CLASS B COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE TRAINING PLUS THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION BACKGROUND CHECKS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN THE MISSOURI CLASS B COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE AND THE FEES FOR THE LICENSE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE TRAINING WITH AN EMPHASIS IN THE UNDERSERVED TARGET AREAS TO LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED, UNDEREMPLOYED, VETERANS, AND JUSTICE INVOLVED, WITH CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES REQUIRED TO SECURE LIVABLE WAGE JOBS DOING ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUPS IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEREBY IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN THE TARGET AREA.ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL TRAIN GRADUATES TO LEARN SKILLS AND EARN CERTIFICATIONS NECESSARY TO ENTER ENVIRONMENTAL CAREERS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS PROJECT INCLUDE RECRUITING, SCREENING, SELECTING AND TRAINING PARTICIPANTS, GRADUATING 90% AND PLACING 80% OF GRADUATES IN ENVIRONMENTAL JOBS WITH ONE GRADUATE PURSUING FURTHER EDUCATION, PLUS TRACKING AND SUPPORTING GRADUATES AT LEAST ONE YEAR POST-GRADUATION. SPECIAL EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON RECRUITING PARTICIPANTS WHO RESIDE WITHIN THE FEDERALLY DESIGNATED PROMISE ZONE (NORTH ST. LOUIS AND NORTH ST. LOUIS COUNTY) WHICH IS LITTERED WITH VACANT LOTS AND ABANDONED HOMES, FACTORIES AND WAREHOUSES. TRAINING WILL INCLUDE THREE SESSIONS PER YEAR FOR A TOTAL OF SIX SESSIONS DONE DURING THE FIRST TWO YEARS USING 5-WEEK CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION INCLUDING HANDS-ON TRAINING AND HEAVY TRUCK DRIVING. THE GRANT RECIPIENT WILL WORK WITH ITS PARTNERS TO ASSIST PARTICIPANTS WITH JOB PLACEMENT AND TRACK SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPANTS THROUGH THE THIRD YEAR OF THE AGREEMENT.SUBRECIPIENT:THE SUBAWARD IS TO SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY'S CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (CEET) TO DELIVER 86 HOURS OF TRAINING (3-HOUR ENVIRONMENTAL ORIENTATION; 5-HOUR INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY; THE UNITED STATES OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 29 CFR 1910.120 40-HOUR HAZARDOUS WASTE OPERATIONS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE, 30-HOUR CONSTRUCTION SAFETY AND 8-HOUR 7300 PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE), TRAINING SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, OVERSIGHT AND MANAGEMENT OF INSTRUCTIONAL CONSULTANTS, APPROPRIATE ACCREDITATIONS, REVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT OF CURRICULA, AND ASSOCIATED PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES.OUTCOMES:THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE TRAINING TO A DIVERSE GROUP OF UNEMPLOYED, UNDEREMPLOYED, VETERANS, AND/OR JUSTICE-INVOLVED, LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS FROM THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY IN MISSOURI, AND A PORTION OF EAST ST. LOUIS IN ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS. THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE 150 PARTICIPANTS RECRUITED AND SCREENED FROM THE TARGET AREA WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE PROMISE ZONE, 48 SELECTED AND TRAINED, 44 GRADUATED, 35 PLACED IN