Partnerships needs to make Green Training available at Ohio’s Colleges=Apollo Al

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Partnerships needs to make Green Training available at Ohio's Collegesfrom the Apollo Alliance

Making Ohio "green" means more than recycling and reducing pollution. While these are very important, so too is re-starting our state's economy with environmentally sustainable jobs and industries. To do that, we must look to our current and future workforces and help turn those green as well.In July, the Ohio Board of Regents, an advisory board of the University System of Ohio, and the Ohio Environmental Council announced the launch of a joint project, Ohio Green Pathways, to train students and re-train workers to secure green jobs. One of the most important issues for Ohio is the economy —right now and in the future. With traditional industries leaving the state, we need to re-train workers who are out of work, as well as those entering the workforce, to take advantage of new industries and technologies that will bolster our economy while reducing impact on our environment.The Ohio Green Pathways project will work to increase enrollment in college programs that would lead to green jobs. Some institutions are already expanding existing programs that train students to work in such fields as alternative energy and environmentally friendly construction.The project involves the state's 14 public universities and 24 branches, 23 community colleges, and more than 200 adult workforce education centers and training programs.The OEC will facilitate the participation of green business allies in the project, lead efforts to coordinate influential project advisors and partners, and provide other assistance. According to Nolan Moser, Director of Energy & Clean Air Programs for the OEC, the Ohio Green Pathways project will help foster the growth of new programs at universities while increasing the capacity of existing ones. For example, the Industrial Assessment Center at the University of Dayton runs a program that saves substantial amounts of energy annually at manufacturing operations. Graduates of this program have a 90% job placement rate. Using the Ohio Green Pathways tools, the Industrial Assessment Center will be able to better communicate to potential students the value and opportunities associated with the university's program.

We need leadership at our state level and state colleges to make Ohio a Green Industrial Giant!

Dennis Spisak
Mahoning Valley Green Party
Ohio Green Party
www.ohiogreens.org
www.votespisak.org/thinkgreen/