EPA Urban Waters Small Grants:Growing the Stormwater Management Industry and Creating

Pathways out of Poverty

Baltimore Center for Green CareersA venture of the non-profit Civic Works

Mission: Advance environmental sustainability and expand access to family-sustaining green careers for Baltimore residents traditionally locked out of high quality jobs

Two Key Grant Objectives1. Expand Homeowner Investment

Encourage homeowner investment in water retrofits that reduce stormwater runoff and conserve water usage.

2. Expand Job AccessTrain underserved workers to reduce a home’s water consumption and

stormwater runoff

Water Retrofit ResultsWater Conservation• 1,855,700 gallons of water saved per year• 439 participating homeowners• 482 low-flow showerheads• 697 faucet aerators

Stormwater• 127 stormwater audits performed by BWB• 20 rain barrels• 8 downspout disconnects• 2 trees planted• 2 properties removed invasive species• 1 property removed hardscape

Stormwater Job Training ResultsIncorporated a stormwater construction and maintenance module into BCGC’s brownfields remediation training, in partnership with BWB• 77 enrolled• 70 graduated (91%)• 59 placed (84%) into family-sustaining jobs• Starting wages of $12 to $16 per hour

Plans for the FutureWater Retrofits• Continue successful indoor water retrofit program• Integrate downspout disconnects into all

residential sustainability improvement projects

Job Training• Launch a standalone three month stormwater

training track in 2017• Support the development of a stormwater worker

certification program

2017 Stormwater Training Launch

Integrated Approach for Job Training

Classroom and Hands-on Training

Business Development:Improving Job

Access and Quality

On-the-Job Training

Addressing Barriers to Employment• Employee Barriers : Lack of soft skills and

marketable job skills

• Employer Barriers: Narrow hiring networks and resistance to hiring residents with criminal records

• Market Barrier: Few local Baltimore-based contractors

Stormwater Labor Market Analysis• Demand Drivers

– Government purchasing, policy requirements, etc.– Baltimore City: spending on stormwater construction will grow

from < $1M to $40M in 2018• Employer Hiring Trajectory

– Average growth of 40% over the past two years• Average Wage Levels

– $12 - $16 per hour• Skills Gaps

– Strong essential skills, equipment operations, excavation, on-site vegetation maintenance, and sediment and erosion control

• Minimum Qualification Requirements– Knowledge, skill and certification barriers that are attainable

through training– No formal education requirements

Stormwater Industry Objectives• Qualify and place individuals with few

marketable skills in mid-skill stormwater positions earning family-sustaining wages

• Provide participants with a competitive labor market advantage

• Avoid placing graduates into entry-level laborer or temporary positions

• Help employers understand the benefits of establishing workforce development partnerships, and changing how they hire

Classroom and Hands-on Training

BCGC Image

Soft Skills andCase Management• Resume writing• Interview skills• Being punctual• Goal setting• Supportive services• Securing a driver’s

license• 2 yrs of post-placement

case management

CertificationsStormwater• Clean Water Certification

(planned)• OSHA 10 Hr or 30 Hr• OSHA Confined Space• Erosion and sediment

control• Pesticide applicator,

fertilizer applicator and nutrient management certifications

Hands-on Training• Minimum of 80 hours

• Students learn best by doing

• Must pass hands-on assessment before beginning on-the-job training

On-the-Job Training

Impact of OJT• Provides graduates with

a strong competitive advantage

• Staff can strongly vouch for a student’s skills, trustworthiness and professionalism

Business Development:

Improving Job Access and Job Quality

Transforming Employer PracticesLow Quality

• Screens out applicants with non-job-related criminal records, regardless of qualifications

• Recruits through narrow networks

• Low wages and inconsistent hours

• Few opportunities for advancement

High Quality• Conducts an individual

assessment of each job candidate, following EEOC guidelines

• Recruits from underserved communities

• Exclusively hires from BCGC• Family-sustaining wages and

full-time consistent hours• Strong career ladders and

investment in career support

Contact:

Eli AllenDirectorBaltimore Center for Green Careerseallen@baltimoregreencareers.org(410) 929-6135

www.baltimoregreencareers.org