Goodwill receives $1.5 million U.S. Department of Labor grant to provide green jobs training to Arizonans

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 09:00 AM

PHOENIX (Feb. 16, 2010) -- As part of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Pathways Out of Poverty Grants, Goodwill of Central Arizona will receive $1.5 million this year to provide green jobs training to individuals living in high poverty geographic areas. Through cohesive programs that integrate training and supportive services, Goodwill plans to help individuals find "pathways out of poverty" and move toward economic self-sufficiency.

“Goodwill of Central Arizona is proud to be apart of this national project to provide training and employment help through the emerging green jobs sector,” said Lisa Kizer, Vice President of Workforce Development for Goodwill of Central Arizona. “Goodwill is committed to establishing partnerships that provide much-needed revitalization efforts to our clients and communities, while realizing the benefits of sustainability and environmental stewardship.”

Goodwill of Central Arizona was among six Goodwill organizations nationwide to be awarded funds to help further its mission to provide job skills training and employment services to Arizonans with vocational disadvantages and disabilities. Approximately 300 Arizonans are expected to benefit from this program over the next two years.

Kizer estimates that the program may begin in April 2010 but has not announced an official launch date. On-the-job training and classroom preparation will be available for participants who live in the south central Phoenix area, are 18 years of age or older and meet program eligibility criteria.

Goodwill of Central Arizona continues to look toward local employers and educational institutions to further its ongoing commitment to community revitalization via the preservation of human resources and workforce development throughout Arizona. For more information regarding Goodwill’s green jobs programs, please visit goodwillaz.org.

With 63 years of serving central Arizona’s communities, Goodwill of Central Arizona is one of the oldest and largest nonprofit agencies in Arizona. Our Commitment is to Put People to Work throughout Arizona by providing job training and employment services to those with vocational disadvantages and disabilities that can include mental and emotional barriers, physical disabilities, welfare dependency, illiteracy and age. In 2009, we served more than 25,000 youth and adults on their quest toward self-sufficiency and secured more than 6,700 employment opportunities. For more information on Goodwill of Central Arizona, visit www.goodwillaz.org.