The ABCCM Green Jobs program is training Asheville residents who are currently unemployed or living in poverty and placing them into green jobs. ABCCM Green Jobs, funded by a federal stimulus grant in partnership with the Opportunity Industrialization Centers (OIC) of America, serves people living in targeted Asheville neighborhoods where poverty rates are 15% or higher.

You can support the Green Jobs program by:

1.

Referring a Client to Us for Training. To be eligible, adults living in the targeted areas must be unemployed or qualify based on low-income or barriers to employment such as lack of high school diploma or criminal background. Those who are motivated to succeed may be enrolled in short term training, certification and job placement services in one of five careers: Weatherization Certified Technician, Biofuels Technician, Solar Thermal Certified Installer, Building Analyst and LEED Green Associate.

2.

Weatherize Your Home to Save Money and Create a Pathway Out of Poverty for Others. Two hundred of our clients will be trained in Weatherization by our local non-profit partner, Green Opportunities. By weatherizing your home, you will be creating the market demand that allows local green businesses to expand and hire our graduates, thus giving them a pathway out of poverty

3.

Donate to Support a Student. The grant funding covers the training costs for our clients, but not all of their books and exam fees. A donation of $50 - $250 will support a student through a class. A donation of $25 will help a student with transportation costs during preparatory courses, training and job search.

4.

Refer Us to an Employer Seeking Great Workers. Do you know someone in your church who is involved in home retrofits, solar energy, eco-friendly product manufacture or sales, plumbing, home heating or other businesses related to green building design and construction? Kindly refer these decision-makers to us and we can explain how ABCCM Green Jobs can promote their businesses and save them effort and time in hiring qualified, well-trained employees.