Mary Myrick

Green jobs are coming to Oklahoma!

A total of $150 million in grants have been awarded to provide green job training as part of the federal recovery act. In connection with this effort, Green Jobs Central Oklahoma (GJCO), a project of the It’s My Community Initiative (IMCI), received a 2-year, $4 million grant to equip Oklahomans for careers in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The grant will benefit impoverished sections of northeast Oklahoma City with a goal of placing 200 people in green jobs within two years.

Green Jobs Central Oklahoma provides recruitment and referral services, work-readiness and occupational skills training and more. Oklahoma Goodwill Industries (OGI) is responsible for the recycling training, apprenticeship and employment components of this effort.

“The grant money will target training for jobs paying at least $14 an hour and offering benefits in the recycling and wind energy fields,” said Mary Myrick, president of Public Strategies, Inc., a social enterprise partner of IMCI. A strong proponent of green initiatives, Mary Myrick believes environmental responsibility should extend into one’s personal as well as professional commitments.

The funding is intended to reach those with little education or workplace experience, according to Sandino Thompson, executive director of IMCI. “A big component of the grant is helping people without high school diplomas and skills get in careers with upward advancement,” he said. “In turn, this will ultimately help to strengthen the northeast OKC community.”