The City of Boston has been awarded nearly $10 million in federal funding to help build a Climate-Ready Workforce.
More than 1,000 people will receive job training in construction, wastewater management and more, to combat the growing threat of sea level rise.
Gina Raimondo, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, said a 21st-century workforce must be climate literate.
“If we’re going to ensure that American workers can take advantage of the jobs that we’re creating, then we have to be proactive about training folks,” Raimondo asserted. “So they have the skills they need to get the jobs that are available.”
The program is one of nine climate-related job programs nationwide funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and focused on economically-disadvantaged communities, which often face disproportionate impacts from climate change.
More than half of Massachusetts residents live in coastal communities, and state officials are planning for an additional 2.5 feet of water by 2050 if global greenhouse gas emissions are not significantly reduced. Cities and towns will need a pipeline of skilled workers for flood mitigation efforts and infrastructure upgrades.
Frank Niepold, program manager, for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said providing workers with vital wraparound services, like child care and health care, will help ensure they complete their training.
“This program is designed to really build that connection between the training and the employment in a much more explicit way,” Niepold explained. “While also helping historically underserved people to get access to those good jobs.”
The funding will be distributed through Boston’s Office of Workforce Development to employers, colleges and community groups. Officials said training projects could begin as soon as Aug. 1.
