Collaborative group seeks to expand region’s green skills

Community leaders and elected officials — including Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th District — gathered Thursday at Virginia International Raceway to announce a step toward a greener future through $100,000 in available grants for work force partnerships. 

In the wake of the U.S. House of Representatives’ approval of a controversial “green jobs” bill — which Perriello vehemently supported — the freshman congressman was on hand with the Dan River Region Collaborative to publicize the available grant money to nurture green skills.

“I think it’s a beacon of light to companies all over the country that this is a place serious about building the next generation work force,” Perriello said. “And I think it’s a signal to our workers, so many of whom are unemployed, that we are serious — not just about getting them a job, but a decent, solid-wage job.”

The Dan River Region Collaborative, formed last summer, is one of 20 partners with the National Fund for Workforce Solutions, serving about 150,000 people in Pittsylvania, Halifax and Henry counties and the cities of Danville and Martinsville. The group’s goal is to raise the existing work force’s skill levels and address barriers for low-income employees.

The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region serves as the group’s fiscal agent, while the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce is the project lead. Chamber president Laurie Moran said grant proposals for part of the $100,000 will be accepted through July 31, although that date is flexible if a worthwhile proposal is presented later. 

“We’re hoping this gives our businesses an opportunity for some work force training and flexibility that goes above and beyond what’s currently available to them,” Moran said. “I really do think that especially here initially, the existing businesses are the ones that will see the greatest benefit.”

The DRR Collaborative’s goal for the grant money is to improve the quality and quantity of jobs through changes for workers, institutions and the system as a whole through work force partnerships.

“What we hope is that we’ll have regional work force partners come together,” said Clark Casteel with the Dan River Foundation, “including business and industry training providers to try to get some of this money. I think over the long term, if we can create this work force system that can provide these green skills, that’s what’s going to create the interest with the other groups from outside the region.”

The group listed the following as critical areas for development: energy efficiency, smart grid/smart energy, renewable energy, biofuels/biomass, green building, alternative transportation, recycling and waste management and sustainable agriculture and horticulture.

The DRR Collaborative received the $100,000 from the NFWS in Oct. 2008, with the potential to renew for two additional years. The NFWS requires a four to one match in pooled or aligned funds from collaborative members, which include the Community Foundation of the Dan River Region, the Danville Regional Foundation, The Harvest Foundation and the Virginia Tobacco Commission.

That means a potential total of $1.5 million during the next three years for the DRR Collaborative to invest in workforce partnerships.

“I think one of the main problems we always have is work force,” said Delegate Danny Marshall, R-14th District. “This is critical. You’ve got to have a trained and knowledgeable work force so that these companies are going to want to come. We’ve got to set ourselves apart from the rest of the localities so we can attract those companies.”

More information on the grant qualifications and requests for proposals can be found at cfdrr.org.