Udall: $300,000 for Santa Fe Community College Clean Energy Job Training

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Tom Udall today announced that Santa Fe Community College will receive $300,000 for environmental workforce development and job training for the second straight year.

The funds, provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will be used to teach job skills to unemployed or underemployed workers from Santa Fe and nearby areas.

"With many New Mexicans still out of work, job training programs like this are a great way to learn new skills for a competitive economy," Udall said. "Over the past decade, the number of clean energy jobs grew at nearly double the rate of the overall job market, providing high wage jobs, especially important during tough economic times. Folks coming out of this program will be well-prepared to compete in the clean energy economy."

The funding will support SFCC's ongoing programs to recruit, train and place workers in fields like waste management, energy efficiency and renewable energy preparation and installation. It will also offer trainings on how to safely conduct cleanup work at solid and hazardous waste contaminated sites.

The college has established a Sustainable Technologies Center that integrates 21st century trades with advanced technologies and "green" curricula to promote a sustainability economy. The center is located in the college's new Trades and Advanced Technology Center building. For more information about the center, click here .