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County recipient of green grant |
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Thursday, 07 January 2010 |
By WILLIAM LANEY
Managing Editor
More than $4 million is being directed to 44 counties including Auglaize County to help veterans and dislocated workers affected by automotive-related restructuring gain clean energy skills training — a move supported by Wapakoneta’s mayor.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, announced Wednesday Ohio is receiving $24 million in federal funds to help train workers for jobs in the clean energy economy. Auglaize County benefits from the Ohio Green Renewable Opportunities for Workers (Ohio GROWs) program.
“These funds will help prepare Ohio workers for the clean energy jobs of the 21st century,” Brown said in a media teleconference. “Ohio already has a skilled work force and a rich manufacturing heritage. These funds will ensure that Ohio’s workers and suppliers can be a part of our nation’s clean energy economy.
“These funds are targeted for communities that have been hit hardest by job loss in the auto industry,” he said. “They will lead to good-paying jobs and will help Ohio become the Silicon Valley of clean energy manufacturing.”
The project utilizes 19 training centers to provide clean energy skills to 1,288 workers, who can earn a recognized certificate, for jobs in public transportation, wind, solar, geothermal, manufacturing and construction.
The funds, which were awarded through the Energy Training Partnership grant program authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will support training programs in the counties of Allen, Auglaize, Hardin, Shelby and Van Wert.
Mayor Rodney Metz welcomed the money flowing into Auglaize County to help workers since he said the city and county received such a small amount of stimulus dollars through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
“I feel this would be a real boost for Auglaize County and Wapakoneta,” Metz said. “While I am unaware of exactly which establishments the money is going to, I know there have been several applicants and we need to keep our local people in our community instead of losing all that knowledge and experience.”
Metz said he believes the money should help industries became more efficient which reduces their demand on existing forms of energy and gives workers needed training in clean energy processes.
Ohio ranks fourth in the nation for clean energy jobs with clean energy industries as one of the fastest growing emerging sectors in the state’s economy. Within the last three years, the state has attracted more than $74 million in clean energy venture capital.
“There is a tremendous amount of potential in other aspects of green energy, not just those manufacturing jobs directly related to the production of green energy but in the secondary products they make right here in Wapakoneta and those are products that are used daily — I think there is a huge potential in that industrial growth,” Metz said, referring to G.A. Wintzer & Son and Midwest Elastomers as examples. “We also have to stop thinking about the first step, but the second, third and fourth step — it is about educating people who can help develop clean energy technology all the way up the manufacturing chain. It is not the creator of the technology that is going to be the only one to benefit but it is the recipients, the businesses who can benefit from using those technologies that will help Wapakoneta.”
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Last Updated ( Friday, 08 January 2010 )
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