Letter to the Honorable Gina McCarthy, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency - Regarding Federal Funds for the Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Program

Letter

The Honorable Gina McCarthy

Administrator

Environmental Protection Agency

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, D.C. 20460

Dear Administrator McCarthy,

I write in support of the application submitted by the City of Glens Falls for funding from the Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Program through the Environmental Protection Agency. This funding will allow the City of Glens Falls to continue a local job training initiative for unemployed and underemployed workers.

Located in the Capital Region of New York State, Glens Falls' economy has long relied on the tourism, manufacturing, financial services, and public sectors for most of its activity. However, because of a slowdown in those sectors, the City has decided to invest in retraining its workforce in the environmental and green technology fields. The City was awarded an Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training grant in 2013, and has successfully trained more than 50 individuals for environmental and green-based technology jobs.

The requested funding will be used to continue to implement the City's Technology Redevelopment and Job Training Initiative. This initiative will utilize local partners, such as UA Local 773 Plumbers and Steamfitters, to recruit unemployed and underemployed workers for training through certification courses in environmental and green technology fields. In addition, this initiative will create a strong public-private partnership, ensuring the curriculum meets the needs of employers and helps close the growing skills gap in the region.

Sincerely,

Kirsten Gillibrand
United States Senator

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