King County/Seattle project receives Brownfields job training grant

King County and the City of Seattle will receive $147,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to serve as one of 10 national pilot programs to train employable workers in environmental cleanup techniques. The grant will provide trainees with livable wage, entry level jobs and wage progression while furthering the cleanup of abandoned, contaminated industrial properties. King County and the City of Seattle applied jointly for the project. Ten projects were selected nationally.

"This is truly a win for everyone and represents our shared vision for connecting low income residents with meaningful employment opportunities while improving the environmental quality of the Puget Sound region," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "Funds from the grant will go to train people to handle hazardous waste, clean up contaminated industrial sites, and, eventually, to assess 'brownfields' sites King County and Seattle are helping to turn back into useful, productive business sites."

"This grant is a welcome boost to our efforts to create and sustain family wage employment for our residents and retain a healthy industrial economic base," said Seattle Mayor Paul Schell.

Under the grant, the King County Jobs Initiative will train 40 people, and the Seattle Jobs Initiative will train 10 people over two years. The project is being done in partnership with environmental cleanup employers, South Seattle and Highline Community Colleges, community organizations and the King County Labor Council. The Jobs Initiatives offer low-income job seekers with industry-driven short-term training and job placement in targeted sectors with livable wages.

Vice President Al Gore made the announcement this morning, saying that the "job training and development pilots will provide invaluable information and examples on models related to the assessment, clean-up and redevelopment of brownfields properties. There is no greater example of the environment and the economy working hand in hand to benefit the American people than this effort to clean up and revitalize brownfields."

Since 1993, the Administration has taken significant steps to clean up and redevelop brownfields and return them to productive use. This includes designating King County/City of Seattle as a 'brownfields showcase community' last August, officially making the region eligible for federal funds to clean up and reclaim contaminated industrial land.