Memphis Bioworks Awarded $2.9 Million ARRA Department of Labor Grant for Green Jobs Training

News Release
Jan 6, 2010

MEMPHIS, Tennessee - Memphis Bioworks Foundation announced it has been awarded a $2.9 million Energy Training Partnership Grant under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Green Jobs Training Program. The two-year initiative will fund programs to train area workers for jobs in energy-efficiency and renewable energy occupations. Memphis Bioworks Foundation.is one of 25 award recipients across the U.S.

The Grant will benefit a 26-county area of West Tennessee and Arkansas through training programs for higher education organizations, employers, training providers, and workforce development agencies. In partnership with the Memphis Bioworks Foundation, key recipients include Dyersburg State Community College, Tennessee Local Workforce Investment Areas # 11, 12, and 13, the Eastern Arkansas Workforce Investment Area, Jackson State Community College, the University of Memphis BEST Program, Mid-South Community College, Seedco, Southwest Tennessee Community College, the National Electrical Contractors Association, and multiple employers.

"Our outstanding award recipients were selected because their proposed projects will connect workers to career pathways in green industries and occupations through diverse partnerships," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

The project will leverage existing training curricula coupled with input from employers to produce new training programs in such areas as agricultural production for biomass crops, sustainable design and construction, chemical processing, plant process operations and solar installation. Training programs will also be developed for farmers and students interested in broadening farming operations to include biomass processing and producer-to-processor supply chain management.

"With nearly one in ten people in Shelby County looking for work, this infusion of federal funding will help them get the training they need to seek employment in the emerging 'green' economy," Congressman Steve Cohen said. "I commend Memphis Bioworks for receiving this grant and for their efforts to create partnerships with local community colleges, labor unions and employers to grow the bio-based production, biofuels and energy-efficient construction workforce. I was proud to vote for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that made this funding possible."

A renewable energy training program designed at Mid-South Community College will be used as a model for the development of training curricula at colleges in West Tennessee. With the involvement and expertise of employers in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, local colleges will create models to train workers for jobs in emerging industry clusters, including the field of processing of bio-based products.

"We are pleased to partner with these highly-qualified educational institutions and employers in this effort to bring transformational training to the regional workforce," said Dr. Steven Bares, president and executive director, Memphis Bioworks Foundation. "This multi-county, multi-state partnership is built on broad-based regional cooperation and a shared economic development goal of leadership in green industry and new jobs in the biosciences."

Memphis Bioworks Foundation

The Memphis Bioworks Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, formed to lead the collaboration between public, private, academic and government entities to accelerate the growth of the bioscience industry in the region. Memphis Bioworks strives to leverage and expand the regional strengths in the biosciences through education, research, job training, and commercialization. Memphis Bioworks is leading the development of the UT-Baptist Research Park, which serves as the focal point of the city's biomedical economic development. For more information, visit www.memphisbioworks.org.





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