Artificial Grass & Green Education Funding

Federal Funds for Green Education

While the funds for artificial grass rebates in California have dried up due to state budget shortfalls, federal funds for “green education” are still available. California school districts, colleges and universities will get an additional $1.3 billion in expedited State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF) that have been fast-tracked. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), $49.6 million will be available for local energy efficiency programs. An estimated 20,000 clean energy workers, including courses in solar energy and artificial grass installation will be trained under another ARRA funding mechanism providing $75 million for the nation’s largest state-sponsored green jobs training program.

California has just created nation’s largest state-sponsored green jobs training program in what will be a boost to community colleges and workforce investment boards. The Clean Energy Workforce Training Program (CEWTP), which leverages ARRA funds, public-private partnerships and state and local funding to invest $75 million to train clean energy workers. According to the Governor’s office, this is expected to “train over 20,000 clean energy workers who will help the state meet its goals of renewable energy development, climate change reduction, clean transportation and green building construction for a new green economy.”

These funds will be available for the unemployed, those seeking new skills and particularly those recently returning from military deployments. Community colleges will offer the majority of the training along with independent vocational schools such as the Green Collar School in Ontario, CA which specializes in training for “Green Jobs,” which included solar panel installation, marketing and sales classes. Classes for artificial grass installation and sales are also in the works. Monies are also available for high school vocational programs, as well.

The goal for encouraging Green Education by retrofitting California’s residential and non-residential structures for energy efficiency could save consumers 2.7 billion BTU’s annually and create over 2,100 jobs. California received $49.6 million for local energy efficiency programs under the ARRA Energy Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program to help make this possible. It is expected to save local jurisdictions over $9 million per year.

Purchase Green is proud to announce it has created a curriculum for artificial grass installation to be approved for federal funds - we will keep you posted!