Pittsburgh Conservation Corps

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO THE PITTSBURGH CONSERVATION CORPS. SPECIFICALLY, THE PROJECT WILL SUPPORT A PITTSBURGH-PHILADELPHIA PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LANDFORCE (PITTSBURGH CONSERVATION CORPS, D/B/A/ LANDFORCE) AND POWERCORPSPHL, AND THEIR SUB-AWARDEES. LEVERAGING A PITTSBURGH / PHILADELPHIA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS TO MULTIPLY THE IMPACT OF DECARBONIZATION, POLLUTION REMEDIATION, AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY THROUGH WOODY BIOMASS UTILIZATION. THE PARTNERSHIP WILL CREATE AND EXPAND TWO WOODY BIOMASS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CAMPUSES, STRENGTHEN THE URBAN LUMBER AND BIOCHAR MARKET, AND DEPLOY SOIL-REMEDIATING BIOCHAR IN BOTH CITIES. LANDFORCE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL EMPLOYMENT SOCIAL ENTERPRISE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON RECRUITING AND TRAINING PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY EXCLUDED FROM CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. ONCE TRAINED, PARTICIPANTS WORK ON LAND STEWARDSHIP CREWS THAT REPAIR THE ENVIRONMENT WHILE WORKING ON TRANSITIONING TO EMPLOYMENT BEYOND LANDFORCE. THIS GRANT WILL WORK TO TRANSFORM URBAN WOOD REUSE, WHICH REFERS TO THE MILLING OF TREES THAT HAVE NATURALLY FALLEN OR HAVE BEEN REMOVED DUE TO DISEASE OR OTHER HUMAN-RELATED REASONS AND CAN BE TURNED INTO LUMBER FOR RESALE.ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CREATING A FULL-CAMPUS MODELS FOR WOODY BIOMASS REUTILIZATION, THE PROJECT WILL CREATE A FIRST OF ITS KIND CIRCULAR ECONOMY MODEL. THIS UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP CENTERS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISADVANTAGED RESIDENTS AND INCREASES NEIGHBORHOOD ACCESS TO MATERIALS THAT INCREASE SOIL HEALTH AND MITIGATE POLLUTION. THIS PROJECT WILL BUILD CLIMATE RESILIENCE THROUGH ITS CIRCULAR ECONOMY MODEL, STRENGTHEN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES THROUGH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT/CREDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS CREATED THROUGH SYNERGISTIC PARTNERSHIPS. CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT WILL ENABLE THESE OPERATIONS TO INTENSELY STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES.SUBRECIPIENT:STATUTORY PARTNER SUBAWARD: POWERCORPSPHL AND THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY, WILL SERVICE BOTH PHILADELPHIA AND PITTSBURGH COMMUNITIES. THEY WILL CREATE AND RUN THE CREDENTIAL PROGRAM AND PROCESSING TRAINING LABORATORY-SCALE EQUIPMENT AS INDUSTRY-NEEDS AND WORKFORCE ASSESSMENT IS COMPLETED OVER THE FIRST TWO YEARS. THE PHILADELPHIA PARKS AND REC ORGANIC RECYCLING CENTER WILL WORK ON DELIVERY AND PROCESSING EQUIPMENT, 3FTES. FARM PHILLY WILL ALSO ON DELIVERY AND PROCESSING FOR PROJECT AREA RESIDENTS AND 4 STAFF POSITIONS. ALLEGHENY COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT WILL COMPLETE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SOIL ANALYSIS THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE GRANT. PENN STATE WILL PROVIDE FACULTY AND STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS RELATED TO ANNUAL REPORT COMPLETION. OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE 147,000 BOARD FEET (BF) OF LUMBER PRODUCED, 915 METRIC TONS (MT) OF WOOD REMOVED FROM THE WASTE STREAM, 56 MTS OF BIOCHAR PRODUCED, 5.8 ACRES OF SOIL TREATED WITH BIOCHAR, 25 TRAINEES ENTERING INTENSIVE TRAINING AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, 16 RECEIVING CERTIFICATIONS FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY AND MOVING INTO FULL-TIME JOBS, 44 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS HELD, 300 TREES PLANTED, AND 427 MT OF CO2E SEQUESTERED. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE WOODY BIOMASS DIVERTED FROM THE LANDFILL, CARBON SEQUESTERED AND GREEN HOUSE GASES REDUCED, IMPROVED AIR QUALITY, REDUCED HEAT ISLANDS, LEADING TO INCREASED RESILIENCE TO EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATE CONDITIONS, SOILS CONTAMINATED WITH LEAD RESTORED, INCREASED EFFICACY OF COMPOST BY ADDING BIOCHAR, CARBON SEQUESTERED IN BUILT ENVIRONMENT BY UTILIZING PRODUCTS MADE IN THIS PROCESS, IMPROVED STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND IMPROVED PLANT HEALTH TO MITIGATE IMPACTS OF FLOODING, IMPROVED SOIL HEALTH BY INCREASING RESIDENT AND CITY COMPOST USE, PRODUCTS CREATED FOR SALE FROM THE WASTE STREAM, INCREASED WAGES, BENEFITS, JOB QUALITY AND JOB SECURITY FOR PARTICIPANTS IN WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS, INCREASE IN SKILLED GREEN JOBS WORKFORCE, INCREASED KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION ABOUT EN

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA) (PL 117-58) FOR PITTSBURGH CONSERVATION CORPS TO RECRUIT, TRAIN, AND PLACE UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED RESIDENTS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA IN ENVIRONMENTAL CAREERS WITH SKILLS NEEDED TO SAFELY CONDUCT REMEDIATION WORK AT SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE-CONTAMINATED SITES, AS WELL AS APPROPRIATE TRAINING IN GREEN REMEDIATION TECHNOLOGIES AND STORM WATER MANAGEMENT. HARD SKILLS TRAINING FOCUSES UPON TWO MAIN AREAS: ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND TOOLS AND SAFETY; SPECIAL TRAINING IN CHAIN SAW SAFETY, FIRST AID CERTIFICATION, HAZWOPER, AND NGICP ARE ALL INCLUDED. FOLLOWING THE 7-WEEK TRAINING, CREW MEMBERS MAY BE HIRED BY THE RECIPIENT'S EMPLOYMENT SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, AND ARE DEPLOYED ON JOB SITES TO RECEIVE FURTHER ON-THE-JOB TRAINING IN GSI, WOODLAND TRAILS, HABITAT RESTORATION, AND VACANT LOT MANAGEMENT. ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL TRAIN GRADUATES TO LEARN SKILLS AND CERTIFICATIONS NECESSARY TO ENTER INTO ENVIRONMENTAL CAREERS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING UNDER THIS PROJECT ARE SPECIAL TRAINING IN CHAIN SAW SAFETY, FIRST AID CERTIFICATION, HAZWOPER, AND NGICP ARE ALL INCLUDED. FOLLOWING THE 7-WEEK TRAINING, CREW MEMBERS MAY BE HIRED BY RECIPIENT'S EMPLOYMENT SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, AND ARE DEPLOYED ON JOB SITES TO RECEIVE FURTHER ON-THE-JOB TRAINING IN GSI, WOODLAND TRAILS, HABITAT RESTORATION, AND VACANT LOT MANAGEMENT. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE TRAINING TO PEOPLE WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA. BENEFICIARIES WILL BE PEOPLE WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA. THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES FOR ARE: 35 INDIVIDUALS RECRUITED, TRAINED, CERTIFIED, AND PLACED IN ENVIRONMENTAL CAREERS IN COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES AND FACILITIES; 4 CLASSROOM STYLE TRAININGS, PRACTICAL TRAININGS, AND CURRICULA MODULES; 4 APPROPRIATE CERTIFICATIONS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND SITE CLEANUP METHODS; AND, 51 INDIVIDUALS THAT RECEIVE CERTIFICATIONS IN OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 40-HOUR HAZWOPER TRAINING. EXPECTED OUTCOMES FROM THIS PROJECT INCLUDE HELPING RESIDENTS OF COMMUNITIES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF JOBS CREATED BY THE ASSESSMENT AND CLEANUP OF BROWNFIELDS AND THE ASSESSMENT, CLEANUP, AND MANAGEMENT OF SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES AND FACILITIES WHILE ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CONCERNS; PROVIDING TRAINING THAT LEADS TO SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD; IMPROVING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND STIMULATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTRUCTIVE PARTNERSHIPS; REDUCING EXPOSURES TO HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF WORKERS, OCCUPANTS, AND RESIDENTS; FOSTERING SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND ENHANCE THE SKILLS AND AVAILABILITY OF LABOR FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION; AND, ENABLING RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROMOTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY, BOTH ON THE JOB AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS COOPERATIVE GRANT AWARD IS FOR LANDFORCE TO HIRE AND TRAIN PEOPLE WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, USING A RIGOROUSLY DESIGNED CURRICULUM WHICH COVERS BOTH HARD AND SOFT SKILLS, COMBINED WITH ACTUAL EMPLOYMENT STEWARDING PITTSBURGHS DEGRADED LANDS. LANDFORCE WORK IS SEASONAL AND CREW MEMBERS WORK FOR 6 MONTHS. THE ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED WILL INCLUDE ONE COHORT TRAINED AND PLACED IN EMPLOYMENT EACH A YEAR OF THE GRANT AWARD. COHORTS BEGIN WITH A 7-WEEK INTENSIVE PAID TRAINING IN LAND STEWARDSHIP AND WORK READINESS. EVERY CREW MEMBER IS OFFERED ALL TRAININGAND THE CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED BASED ON AREA ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS AND THE EMPLOYEE SKILLS GAPS THEIR EMPLOYER PARTNERS DESCRIBE. HARD SKILLS TRAINING FOCUSES UPON TWO MAIN AREAS: ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, TOOLS AND SAFETY. FOLLOWING THE 7-WEEK TRAINING, CREW MEMBERS JOIN A WORK CREW AND ARE DEPLOYED ON JOB SITES TO WORK ON GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, WOODLAND TRAILS, HABITAT RESTORATION, AND VACANT LOT MANAGEMENT. ADDITIONAL TRAINING IN CHAIN SAW SAFETY, HAZARDOUS WASTE OPERATIONS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND NATIONAL GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM ARE INTEGRATED INTO THE WORK PHASE. LANDFORCE USES SPIRAL LEARNING, REPEATING CONCEPTS IN EVER INCREASING LEVELS OF DIFFICULTY TO REINFORCE LEARNING. ON WORK SITES SITE SUPERVISORS &AMPAND DIRECTOR OF LAND STEWARDSHIP REINFORCE NEW SKILLS, SET EXPECTATIONS, AND PROVIDE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. CREWS WORKING ON COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS BENEFIT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY LIVE WHILE BUILDING A FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES. THE ANTICIPATED OUTPUTS WILL BE TO HAVE 50 PARTICIPANTS ENROLLED IN THE TRAINING (25 PER YEAR), 38 GRADUATES COMPLETING THE PROGRAM (19 PER YEAR), 27 GRADUATES PLACED IN ENVIRONMENTAL POSITIONS, AND 1 GRADUATE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FURTHER EDUCATION. THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES AND BENEFICIARIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1) IMPROVED FUNDAMENTAL WORKFORCE AND JOB SKILLS FOR CREW MEMBERS OVER TIME AS EVIDENCED BY IMPROVEMENTS IN A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED WORK READINESS MEASUREMENT TOOL. AGGREGATE ANNUAL GOALS: 300 HOURS OF DIRECT COACHINGAND COMBINED 3,800 HOURS OF HARD SKILLS AND LIFE SKILLS TRAININGS. 80% OF CREW MEMBERS (IN EXIT SURVEYS AND INTERVIEWS) AGREED THAT THEY LEARNED FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS. 2) INCREASED ABILITY FOR CREW MEMBERS TO FIND AND KEEP JOBS, PARTICULARLY IN GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL JOBS. ANNUAL GOALS: 75% COMPLETE LANDFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM, 90% OF GRADUATES APPLY FOR JOBS, AND 73% ARE OFFERED JOBS OR ENTER FURTHER EDUCATIONAND 80% OF CREW MEMBERS AGREEING THAT LANDFORCE EXPERIENCE BUILDS FUTURE JOB SUCCESS. 3) INCREASED LAND STEWARDSHIP SKILLS FOR LANDFORCE CREW MEMBERS AS EVIDENCED BY PRE-AND POST- TESTING FOR SPECIFIC COURSES. AGGREGATE ANNUAL GOAL: 7,500 HOURS OF ON-THE-JOB STEWARDSHIP. 4) ENHANCED APPRECIATION FOR GREEN ASSETS AND URBAN ENVIRONMENTALISM AMONG CREW MEMBERS. ANNUAL GOAL: 80% OF CREW MEMBERS REPORT IN EXIT INTERVIEWS THEY ARE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, BROWNFIELDS AND POTENTIAL REMEDIATION EFFORTS WITHIN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

DESCRIPTION:THIS GRANT AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING TO THE PITTSBURGH CONSERVATION CORPS TO IMPLEMENT AN INTEGRATED MODEL FOR BIOMASS MANAGEMENT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE PROJECT PROPOSES TO DIVERT FALLEN TREES FROM THE WASTE STREAM AND PROCESS THEM INTO VALUABLE PRODUCTS (E.G., LUMBER, BIOENERGY, COMPOST) WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SAWMILL THAT WILL MILL LUMBER FROM FALLEN TREES OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY INTO MERCHANTABLE PRODUCTS. BY HARNESSING THE VALUE OF URBAN WOOD WASTE, THIS PROJECT WILL REDUCE THE PRESSURE ON LANDFILLS AND WILL PROVIDE PEOPLE LIVING IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WITH JOB TRAINING, SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ENTER HIGH-PAYING CAREERS.ACTIVITIES:THESE ACTIVITIES WILL ESTABLISH, INCREASE, EXPAND OR OPTIMIZE THE CAPACITY FOR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT, AND WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF PLANS OR STRATEGIES TO ACCOMPLISH ACTIVITIES THAT WILL DEMONSTRATE AN INCREASE IN THE DIVERSION/RECYCLING RATE.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE THE DIVERSION OF 625 TONS OF URBAN WOOD WASTE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS THAT WILL PRODUCE 150,000 BOARD FEET OF MERCHANTABLE LUMBER IN THE FIRST YEAR. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE AN INCREASE IN LUMBER PRODUCTION, WHICH WILL CREATE JOB TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN WOOD PROCESSING. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROJECT WILL STRENGTHEN THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR WOOD PRODUCTS IN THE PITTSBURGH REGION. THE PITTSBURGH CONSERVATION CORPS HAS A STRONG TRACK RECORD IN ACCOMPLISHING THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GOALS THAT ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS PROJECT. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE THE UNDERSERVED CITIZENS OF THE PITTSBURGH AREA.