Lieberman and Blumenthal Announce $5.8 Million Green Jobs Innovation Grant

Statement

Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today announced the awarding of a $5,800,000 grant from the Green Jobs Innovation Fund to the Connecticut Department of Labor for its Connecticut Green Jobs Funnel Initiative (CGJFI).

This grant will help the Connecticut Green Jobs Funnel Initiative promote career pathways in the green construction industry. The Job Funnel model helps teach unemployed and underemployed workers the skills and crafts of green construction and related industries, including Brownfield remediation, energy management, solar panel installation, and a number of other occupations. The initiative will benefit 975 unemployed and underemployed workers in seven Connecticut communities: Bridgeport, Bristol, Hartford, New Britain, New Haven, New London, and Waterbury.

"Thanks to the Green Jobs Innovation Fund, this grant will prove to be a major investment in Connecticut's workforce and its environment," Lieberman said. "At a time where jobs are hard to come by, this program will provide many underemployed and unemployed workers throughout Connecticut with the skills necessary to participate in the growing green energy industry."

"This grant is crucial to the growth of green jobs in Connecticut and to ensuring that our workers have tools they need to compete in this developing sector. These smart investments in job training are vital to the continual development of good-paying green jobs that are the economic future of our state and our country," said Blumenthal. "I look forward to continuing to provide support to these types of strong grant applications that will foster our economic recovery and put Connecticut back to work."

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