BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Sustainability Workforce Training Center officially opened on the West Side of Buffalo on Thursday. It's the first green job training center focused on meeting climate and energy standards while increasing access to clean energy-related job training and opportunities.
“The green workforce revolution is here and Western New York is ready to meet the needs of sustainable businesses,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. “By investing in green workforce development like PUSH Buffalo’s new training center we can ensure the next generation of New Yorkers is prepared to fill the jobs of the future in our green economy.”
It's a project of PUSH Buffalo and Buffalo Neighborhood Stabilization Company (BNSC) funded mainly by New York State grants. PUSH hopes the center will "at least double the number of its green workforce training program graduates, from 50 graduates per year to more than 100 per year."
JPMorgan Chase also announced a $3 million philanthropic commitment on Thursday to support PUSH Buffalo’s work to decarbonize affordable housing. PUSH Buffalo will build and rehab climate-resilient affordable housing with the help of skilled workers trained by the Sustainability Workforce Training Center.
The center's main purpose is to train residents in careers in clean energy and sustainability and help address the racial gap by providing more opportunities in historically underserved communities. The $2.5 million project was created from the Climate Act mandate for climate resiliency, economic equity, and a transition away from fossil fuels.
It will provide a mix of flexible classroom, office, and meeting spaces. The building is designed to generate as much energy as it uses through an on-site PV solar system and a geothermal heating/cooling system, which will also serve as a learning laboratory for renewable energy training sessions. The center will also be the new home of PUSH’s Community Hiring Hall, training low-income residents and placing them in construction, renewable energy, and energy efficiency sectors.
“As Western New York’s first green jobs training facility, the SWTC will build on PUSH Buffalo’s established workforce development program in the rapidly growing renewable energy and green construction trades," Empire State Development President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight said. "The center’s focus on residents from marginalized communities will encourage and broaden access to jobs and sustainable career paths that will support families now and for the future.”
For more information on PUSH, you can visit the link here.