Staff Reports
CareerSource North Central Florida recently received a $10,000 prize for its work on the Green Job Pipeline Advisor Council.
According to an Alachua County release, Challenge Member by Jobs for the Future (JFF) awarded CareerSource the prize. CareerSource is only one of 20 members nationwide to receive the price and the only one in Florida.
CareerSource received the award for its work on the Council, which is a component of the U.S. Department of Energy supported Project EMPOWER, which is Alachua County’s community-led plan that helps the county transition to a clean energy economy. The Council works to identify the training and skills needed for future green jobs while developing strategies that will connect underserved and low-income job seekers with these opportunities.
“We are thrilled to be awarded Challenge Member status by JFF,” said Phyllis Marty, CEO of CareerSource, in the press release. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Green Job Pipeline Advisory Council.”
The Green Job Pipeline Advisor Council is a collaboration of more than two dozen local governmental, non-governmental, and private sector organizations that are working to construct a talent pipeline for quality green jobs in underserved communities in North Central Florida. The award will allow the Council to apply for more awards from the JFF.
In the press release, Council Member Nkwanda Jah of the NAACP Environmental & Climate Justice Committee said, “Together, we are working to create a more sustainable and equitable future for our region and some of our most underserved neighborhoods.”
The Council also works to coordinate with its partners and the community to provide support and training to businesses creating green jobs in North Central Florida. “We are excited to be a part of the work on the Green Job Pipeline Advisory Council,” said Tom Mason, Santa Fe College Academic Advisor, in the press release. “This Council is a model for how communities can come together to build the training and certifications needed for a more sustainable and equitable future.”