I wrote an article for the March issue of Reeves discussing the impending release of the stimulus funds. For the June issue I wrote about the need for our industry to make plumbing once again sexy, cool and attractive. I think it is important to link the two and to discuss how the plumbing industry can play a major role in our economic recovery while enhancing its image and increasing the bottom line of those who have chosen plumbing as their career. 
   Also in the June issue, you may have read a feature about several contractors who have been successful in implementing the green model in their businesses and how they have “Learned to Be Green.” All of the featured contractors are Licensed GreenPlumbers who have become accredited and who are embracing the changes in the marketplace that will play a major role in the recovery and vitality of our economy.

   Let’s look at what is going on with the stimulus—the ARRA—The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Workforce Alliance has recently summarized the ARRA:

 

“Congress provided $500 million for competitive grants for green jobs training as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act). Although originating under the same authorizing language, the Department of Labor has split this funding into five separate grant competitions for strategic partnerships and other entities to prepare workers for careers in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.”

 

To briefly summarize, each track has very specific language regarding what entities are eligible to apply and what organizations are required to participate in partnerships in order to fulfill the objectives of the grant and win the award. Projects will be accepted for funding between $2- and $6 million, and the awards will be announced in late fall this year. In all cases the objective is to get these dollars quickly working toward training new and incumbent workers with the end product being a more educated, marketable and employable workforce. The true goal is to find jobs for unemployed or displaced workers.

   The key to the grants is that, in each case, there must be a partnership. There is no grant money for a sole company or single entity—in fact it is a requirement to include a number of collaborators and, while I am not fond of the word, a number of “stakeholders.”

   A group of stakeholders, including members of the California’s Green Workforce Coalition, met recently and GreenPlumbers was included, if not featured. Around the table were representatives from the local Workforce Investment Boards, the Local UA and P.I.P.E., local community colleges and GreenPlumbers. The discussion centered around opportunities to use some of the federal dollars, as well as some Energy Commission money, to train workers to fill the growing need in the green jobs market (as defined in the Green Jobs Act of 2007 [See Title X in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007]).

   Specifically, the conversation focused on the need to train would-be apprentice plumbers as well as seasoned journeymen in the new water/energy conservation and green plumbing technologies. The recent announcement of the partnership between P.I.P.E., the United Association and GreenPlumbers was mentioned and the commitment to training excellence among the groups was highlighted. 

   “The UA is the acknowledged leader in the U.S. and Canada in plumbing and mechanical training and we at GreenPlumbers are delighted to work with UA leaders to establish a global standard in green training,” said GreenPlumbers managing director Steve Lehtonen in a recent release. “Our joint content committee is finalizing the assimilation of the curricula and we should be issuing accreditations by early August.”

   “GreenPlumbers has emerged as an innovative force in the green industry. The combination of our training and GreenPlumbers’ vision is a natural fit for the new green marketplace,” said Gary Hamilton, United Association director of plumbing services.

   The partnerships that GreenPlumbers has forged with the UA, P.I.P.E., the Green Mechanical Council and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials to name a few, are tantamount to the perfect recipe to bring the plumbing industry into the new marketplace.

   These partnerships and industry collaborations will serve to increase general awareness of the plumbing industry and the plumbing trade as an accessible, profitable and viable career choice. My hope is that the integration of the groups will be the catalyst to launch plumbing back into the realm of attractive, sexy and cool again.

   An important component in assembling the team for grant application and a necessary ingredient in a healing economy is the presence of jobs--the creation of a workforce is pointless if there are no jobs to fill. Therefore, on another front, GreenPlumbers is working with cities, municipalities and water and energy agencies to identify projects that call for the skills of a GreenPlumber.

   We are currently putting together target lists of “shovel-ready” projects that well be specifying the skills we are training and thereby providing the pull-through to employment so many are seeking. Priority projects include all energy retrofit jobs, and all jobs that are proposing LEED Certification or other green rating status. Working together with the WIBs and One-Stop placement centers to identify employment opportunities is essential to compliance with the grants.

   The ARRA funds as well as other grants for green jobs trainings give GreenPlumbers and our partners the opportunity to make an important, positive impact in our local communities. By participating as a major contributor in the grant application process and ultimately in meeting the grant compliance and providing trainings in the case of award, GreenPlumbers will be actively engaging in our mission: creating sustainable communities.

   To participate in the economic renewal, it is vital to stay on top of trainings offered and to complete accreditations. Because GreenPlumbers will soon change the accreditation process, an accredited GreenPlumber will come to mean one who has taken and successfully completed the entire set of core courses offered. A plumber who has taken one course or who has not completed the set will be considered only partially accredited. A detailed announcement regarding this change will be forthcoming in August.

   Visit GreenPlumbers’ Web site to take advantage of the Early Bird pricing on workshops available in conjunction with the WaterSmart Innovations, Las Vegas in October.