By Juliette Jardim
June 28, 2010

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Durham (NC) Mayor William Bell and New Bedford (MA) Mayor Scott Lang were honored for their excellence in green jobs training, receiving Wal-Mart Foundation Green Jobs Training Initiative grants for green jobs training pilot programs at non-profit organizations in their cities.

"Energy, climate protection and green jobs have been top priorities in our work with mayors, Congress and the Administration, specifically our efforts to enact a new energy block grant program and the Green Jobs Act," said Conference of Mayors Executive Director and CEO Tom Cochran. "The Wal-Mart Foundation's generous support of our Green Jobs Training Initiative enables us to continue this important work in building a green workforce in cities."

The awards were presented by Matt Kistler, Senior Vice President of Sustainability of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., at the Climate Awards Luncheon during the 78th Annual Conference of Mayors in Oklahoma City.

"The U.S. Conference of Mayors, through its Green Jobs Taskforce, is providing leadership, advocacy, best practices and technical assistance to mayors and cities across the country to ensure that we, as a nation, are poised to successfully build the green economy," said Kistler. "Wal-Mart is pleased to partner with The U.S. Conference of Mayors- in their efforts to lay an important foundation for identifying the strategies that will help to move the needle for the creation of green jobs."

Nutter was awarded the Large'size City Award of $500,000 for the Energy Coordinating Agency's PHILLY GEARS UP for the Green Economy program, which consists of five pilot programs, created in response to either federal or local legislation which will create demand for retrofits, white roof coating and energy audits. The pilot programs are: a pre-apprenticeship for weatherization technicians for 20 High School Seniors; a pre-apprenticeship for foam insulation technicians for 25 BASF incumbent workers; an apprenticeship program for foam insulation technicians for 25 BASF incumbent workers; White Roof coating training for 25 WAP incumbent workers; and energy audit training for 50 energy auditors.

Bell was awarded the Medium'size City Award of $400,000 for the Builders of Hope's Green Work Mentor Youth program, which trains up to 60 young parents aged 16-21 in a comprehensive and "family supportive" residential green construction and substantial rehabilitation training program. Participants will receive technical instruction, practical experience in worksite safety, equipment use, basic licensed trades (e.g. framing and carpentry) and soft'skills development such as punctuality, communication, problem'solving and conflict resolution.

Lang was awarded the Small'size City Award of $300,000 for the People Acting in Community Endeavors (P.A.C.E.)'s Youth Build Green Energy Solutions program, which provides energy efficiency training in both residential and commercial techniques including certifications and training for entry and advanced levels. They will train local contractors, experienced construction workers and inexperienced residents interested in entering the energy efficiency sector by providing basic energy efficiency training to newcomers, and more advanced levels of training and support for entrepreneurs that is affordable to low and moderate income residents.

For more information about the awards and the winning programs, contact Juliette Jardim at jjardim@usmayors.org.