Source: United States Senator for Maryland Ben Cardin
February 08, 2022
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) today announced that Civic Works in Baltimore will receive $200,000 for workforce development and job training to help spur economic opportunity and advance environmental justice in underserved communities. The lawmakers fought to deliver these funds through the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
This funding, provided through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Job Training Program, offers residents of communities historically affected by environmental pollution and economic disinvestment an opportunity to gain the skills and certifications needed to secure local environmental employment in their communities. Individuals typically graduate with the credentials needed to secure long-term careers in lead and asbestos abatement, hazardous waste operations and emergency response, mold remediation, environmental sampling and analysis, and other environmental health and safety roles.
“Investing in our workforce is crucial to both our state’s economic success and our communities’ well-being. This federal funding will prepare Marylanders to step into good-paying jobs and help tackle the environmental challenges we face. Simply put, it’s a big win-win for Baltimore,” said the lawmakers. “Investments like these are exactly why we fought to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. We will keep working to build a healthier, safer Baltimore and boost access to good-paying, local jobs, and transferrable skills that will last a lifetime.”
“Civic Works is proud to be named as a grantee under the EPA’s Brownfields Job Training Program. This grant will help address the critical need for skilled workers in our local environmental remediation industry, and build pathways to family-sustaining careers for Baltimore residents from historically marginalized communities,” said Eli Allen, director of Civic Works’ Center for Sustainable Careers.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a once-in-a-generation investment in American infrastructure that will provide more than $7 billion in federal funding directly to Maryland over five years to strengthen our climate resilience and workforce along with our roads and bridges, transit systems, water infrastructure, broadband internet, and more. The lawmakers worked to enact this law in Congress to create jobs, grow the economy, enhance U.S. competitiveness in the world, and make our transportation system more sustainable and equitable.
Civic Works is a nonprofit based in Baltimore and an AmeriCorps organization that has worked to change lives for the better. Its programs have supported local programs for workforce training, strengthened education, skills development, and community service for over 20 years.
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