WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions will receive $5.99 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment funding aimed at creating and supporting "green jobs."
Funding was provided through the U.S. Department of Labor's State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grants program, and will support job training programs in the state aimed at helping dislocated workers find jobs in expanding green industries and related occupations.
"This grant is an important investment in New Mexico's workforce and in its renewable energy industry," said Bingaman, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. "It will have the immediate impact of helping create jobs now, while laying the groundwork for expanding on this growing industry for decades to come."
"By cultivating educational and training opportunities in the clean-energy industry we will create hundreds of stable, good-paying jobs in our state," said Udall. "This funding will support a strong public-private partnership to advance New Mexico's leadership role in renewable energy development that we need to make our nation more energy independent and reduce pollution."
Key partnerships for the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions efforts include: New Mexico Green Industry Council, Indian Affairs Department, New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, Public Education Department, Environment Department, Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, Department of Veterans Services, State, Apprenticeship Council, State Workforce Boards, Renewable Energy Industries Association, Bluenergy Solarwind, Inc., Southwestern Biofuels Association, EMCORE Solar Power, Inc., Artistic Homes, Inc., New Mexico Green Collaborative, New Mexico Veterans Integration Council, and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
