TNEC providing jobs through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

In the latter half of 2009 the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) awarded TNEC $373,00 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus funds to train workers with exposure risks to hazardous materials and waste on ARRA project work. The funds also allowed TNEC to provide training courses to students identified by workforce development programs in New England.  One such group is JFYNetWorks which has been a leading developer and provider of innovative and effective education and job training programs for over 30 years.  JFYNetWorks serves both youth and adults with programs in the areas for sustainable employment, literacy and K-12 education reform.  JFYNetWorks is the oldest EPA Brownfields job training grantee in the country.  Brownfields are contaminated former industrial sites that can be cleaned up and remediated for new commercial uses.

For over ten years TNEC and JFYNetWorks have collaborated to provide health and safety training to their students who will eventually move into a range of green jobs and other career opportunities.

In January of 2009 one student in the JFYNetWorks 40-Hour Hazardous Waste Site Personnel Basic Health and Safety Course provided by TNEC stood out.  Luis Santos' high energy and eagerness to learn caught the eye of TNEC trainers.  Luis possesses leadership skills and a willingness to work as a team player.  Luis grew up in Boston and has worked at various jobs in the area but wanted something more stable and long term.  Santos contacted JFYNetWorks and began his training to move into a career in Environmental Technology or the Energy sector.

The ARRA funds are helping to support the expansion of the green sector and to ensure an emphasis on employee health and safety.  It has enabled TNEC to hire two new staff members.  Mr. Santos was hired as a Trainer with TNEC and Susan Yuhas was hired as the Administrator for the stimulus training project.