Green Economy Initiatives

GTECH is growing the Green Economy by connecting people and institutions, increasing access to opportunity, and establishing a unique model for collaboration to build and strengthen a green workforce. The Green Economy consists of any business, product or service that has a positive impact on the environment while connecting people and communities together. The Green Economy depends on a workforce steeped in the principles of sustainability.

Community Education, Engagement and Advocacy

Education: At GTECH, we believe that relevant education around green economy topics is a very important piece of the work we do. As such, we offer a range of educational services to youth and adults. Click here for more information.

ReEnergize Pgh: The ReEnergize Pgh Community & Education Campaign is the community engagement, consumer education and marketing arm of the ReEnergize Pgh initiative. ReEnergize Pgh is a regional sustainable economic development strategy focusing on using residential energy efficiency upgrades on a large scale to improve air quality through decreased energy use and to advance a robust local energy efficiency industry by upgrading clusters of targeted buildings and homes. This is a widespread community engagement and education campaign, adaptive to neighborhoods of different demographics, intentional about connecting people directly to energy efficiency resources, and integrated into multiple levels of education. By taking a “metro” or regional approach that connects city and county residents to energy efficiency information, resources and services serve to advance the goals of the Pittsburgh climate action plan, further regional collaboration, engage stakeholders at the community level, build critical partnerships and stimulate green business & workforce development. The ReEnergize Pgh Community & Education Campaign is a coalition of partners with generous support from the Heinz Endowments. Click here for more information.

Leadership Development

Coro’s NEXT Leaders for Green Communities: The NEXT Leaders for Green Communities is a part-time, two-year leadership development program with two goals: provide training and mentoring for the NEXT generation of Hill District/Uptown leaders, and assist young and established leaders to explore how the green economy can fuel community development in the Hill District and Uptown. Click here for more information.

Green Ambassadors and Apprentices Northside (GAANs): GAANs is a 9 month long leadership development program seeking to create a network of motivated individuals that can coordinate green community projects. The group, consisting of 13 Northside residents will go through an intensive 10 session course that will build their knowledge base in the areas of Green Economy, Vacant Land, Leadership, Community Organization and Community Development. Aside from a participation stipend, upon completion, participants will receive funding to create their own Northside based green project.

Urban Leadership Initiative: A leadership development and community engagement initiative focusing on building a grassroots pipeline of green economy leaders and increasing participation in the region’s Weatherization Assistance Program. Click here for more information.

Workforce Development

The Green Jobs Advisory Board (GJAB) is a diverse body of stakeholders committed to growing the regional Green Economy through collaboration, increasing and enhancing educational, training and employment opportunities. GTECH helps facilitate and manage the regional collaborative effort. For more information, visit gjab.org. 

Breaking the Chains of Poverty: This is a pre-apprenticeship green job-training program administered by the A. Philip Randolph Institute’s Pittsburgh Chapter and facilitated in partnership with the United Steelworkers, Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh and GTECH. This program identifies, recruits and provides job readiness and introductory green jobs for residents of public housing communities.
Click here for more info.
 

This is a 6-week training program that covers both soft and hard skills, including Carbon Footprint, Green Chemistry, and Life Skills training. The goals are to raise awareness and educate residents of public housing about green jobs and the green economy, develop a leadership pipeline among residents of public housing in support of investment in the green economy, and connect community members to training and employment programs. Email Dewitt Walton for more information

Green Economy in Action

Dwayne Cooper Garden of Hope: An urban farm and vacant land reclamation project that includes a community vegetable garden and sunflower garden on vacant public housing property in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. This project is a platform for education and training programs, farmer’s market space, and community events. Click here for more information.

Mount Washington CDC Project: A workforce development program that trains low-income residents of South Pittsburgh to work full-time on a trail building program to construct 9 miles of walking trails in Pittsburgh’s Emerald View Park. This is a partnership between the Mt. Washington Community Development Corporation, GTECH Strategies, the A. Philip Randolph Institute, and the Student Conservation Association.

Research and Policy

GTECH has made a concerted effort with many partners to develop a number of impactful reports to benefit the progressive work being done throughout the region to build the green economy and promote healthy community development.