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OUR PROGRAMS
In the short time since its inception, the Green Team has trained more than 70 clients, almost all of whom are now actively working in green economy jobs. We are also hard at work making our communities cleaner, healthier places to live through outreach and education in collaboration with our many partners in government and the non-profit sector.
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| JOB TRAINING FOR THE GREEN ECONOMY |
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The Green Team has developed a three-pronged program, focused on developing green businesses, training our low-income residents to be employed in those businesses, and creating partnerships across the region and state with private industry in an effort to define their needs and develop relevant training for new, green jobs.
Our courses and certifications are provided by qualified traninng personnel approved by the Connecticut State Health Department. The Green Team's graduates are licensed by the State of Connecticut to perform lead and asbestos abatement. Students receive certification upon successful completion of each course.
The Green Team's current roster of training courses includes:
- Life Skills and Job Readiness Training
- Weatherization Training
- Building Performance Institute - Building Analyst Training
- Asbestos Initial Supervisor Training
- Lead-Based Paint Initial Supervisor Training
- Hazardous Waste & Emergency Response Training (HAZWOPER)
- Confined Space Training
- Vocational Counseling
- Communications & Customer Relations
Download a course brochure.
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| GREEN TEAM ENTERPRISE DEPARTMENT |
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For the past two years GBCE has worked on the development of The Green Team Enterprise (TGE), a division that hires graduates of its training programs to do construction-related contracting work. At first, the focus was on bidding contracts for the abatement of hazardous materials in residential settings. This has widened to include the installation of residential and commercial energy conservation measures, as well as retrofitting and renovation of buildings of all types.
GBCE holds CT licenses for Home Improvement Contractor, Lead Abatement Contractor and Asbestos Abatement Contractor. TGE works primarily in Southwestern CT and has taken on several contracts emanating from US Housing and Urban Development funding for the Lead Free Families program. In addition, one of its major projects falls under the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Project. GTE contracts from private and public owners and developers.
Through this department, GBCE has employed 28 graduates on newly created construction-related jobs. These employees are qualified workers, crew chiefs and managers who have obtained certification and/or licensing in Lead Abatement Worker (or Supervisor), Asbestos Abatement Worker (or Supervisor), Lead Inspector, OSHA 10 Construction Safety, Confined Space, Mold Awareness, Weatherization Technician Training, Building Performance Institute/Building Analyst, and State of CT CSG Auditor Certification. Currently, TGE employs 10 of its graduates of whom 8 work in 3 crews.
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| THE GREEN BUSINESS INCUBATOR |
Through the creation of a Green Business Incubator, GBCE seeks to create 32 to 40 new, green jobs. The Green Business Incubator (GBI) will support the growth of young, green businesses specializing in the areas of energy conservation, alternative energy, Brownfields revitalization and reuse/recycling. By fostering the growth of these businesses, the incubator will stimulate creation of new, sustainable, well-paying jobs with career ladders. These jobs will be filled by low-income, un- or under-employed persons from the City of Bridgeport and surrounding communities who will be trained for the new jobs and supported during the first two years of their employment.
The development of the Green Business Incubator takes place within a larger, city-led “B-Green 2020” initiative launched in Bridgeport by Mayor Bill Finch, through his Executive Order #08-001, dated October 24th, 2008, to launch a Sustainability Initiative, and a Sustainability Community Advisory Committee to align goals, policy and actions to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 10% below 1990 levels by 2020. The Green Jobs, Green Businesses and Green Purchasing sub-committee has explored the possibility of developing a broad program to create a green business incubator with many supportive services and to stimulate green businesses throughout Fairfield County. By creating a pilot operation that can deliver services and support to young, green businesses and to create “pathways out of poverty” for inner-city residents, GBCE is setting the stage for a larger, more comprehensive green initiative and incubator that will serve not only Bridgeport, but also Fairfield County and the state of Connecticut.
To develop the green incubator program, GBCE invited members of the regional business, education, financial, governmental and non-profit communities to reflect on the business components, scope and marketing of the proposed incubator. This development committee continues to serve as advisors to GBCE as the incubator is developed and moves toward funding and implementation. The committee includes representatives of The City of Bridgeport, The Workplace, Inc., Career Resources, Inc., Bridgeport Housing Authority, the Community Economic Development Corporation (CEDF), and others.
The Green Business Incubator will be located within the Bridgeport Trade and Technology Center on Barnum Avenue situated on the East Side of Bridgeport, a distressed census tract of the City. Space will be reserved for offices of GBCE that will manage the incubator, classrooms, office services to incubated clients and office and warehouse swing space for future clients.
The incubator will offer services to its business clients that will enable them to stabilize and grow their operations. These services will include:
• Reasonable rental terms for office and warehousing space
• Core Services: communication and office equipment, Internet connection, WIFI,
• Common Services: parking, security, cleaning, conference room, lounge, kitchen and catering services,
• Business training & workshops in management, finance, accounting, marketing, business law, insurances, HR, and IT
• Business Technical Assistance, Mentoring: business plan development and executive coaching
• Networking gatherings
At the same time, GBCE, within the incubator business framework, will hold classes on-site, offering training to local, low-income residents that will prepare them for new jobs created as a result of green businesses growing within the incubator and beyond. Focus will be given to entry-level training with solid components of Life Skills and Job Readiness. Initial training will be in Energy Conservation and Weatherization; Renewable Energy and photovoltaics; and Brownfields revitalization and Hazardous Materials abatement and removal.
GBCE will seek opportunities for students to participate in workshops, On-The-Job training and internships to enhance classroom teaching and alliances with community colleges will permit continuity in educational opportunity leading to higher steps on a career ladder. GBCE will place the students in full-time jobs with the assistance of Career Resources, Inc., Bridgeport’s and Fairfield County’s OneStop office. |
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| GREEN TEAM NEWS |
Community
Leaders Gather to Celebrate "Green" Grads
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. –September 29, 2009 — Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises, Inc. (GBCE), also known as The Green Team, recently held a graduation ceremony to honor 14 newly trained graduates who have successfully completed Weatherization Technician Training... |
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