Congresswoman Doris Matsui Announces

$2.3 Million in Federal Funding for Los Rios

GreenForce Program to Provide Clean Tech Job training

Congresswoman Doris Matsui announced today that the Los Rios Community College District will receive more than $2.3 million in federal funding through a U.S. Department of Labor’s community based job training grant to provide education and training in clean energy and technology.

In November, Congresswoman Matsui, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, wrote to the Department of Labor in support of Los Rios’ application for the federal funding. With the more than two million dollars of funding, Los Rios will develop its GreenForce program, which will train more than 1,000 people over a three year period.

“As Sacramento’s clean technology industry grows, area residents are going to have to be well trained to fill those positions,” said Congresswoman Doris Matsui. “I am confident the development of the GreenForce program will build an exceptional green workforce out of our region’s residents. I am very pleased that the Department of Labor and Los Rios have partnered on this incredibly important project.”

The GreenForce program is designed to train workers in the clean energy and technology fields. This includes the areas of solar systems design and installation, green building design and management, and water system design and operation.

“Thanks to this grant, our colleges will be able to jump start critical workforce training programs in solar and wind technology, and sustainable building design and construction,” said Los Rios Chancellor Brice Harris. “We know that these areas will provide huge job growth in our region and we are anxious to train students and put them to work.”

Sacramento is home to more than 100 clean energy companies in the region; these companies often have difficulty hiring qualified workers. This funding will provide for much need job training and help close the workforce gap.

Congresswoman Matsui was also able to get $250,000 in funding included in the FY 09 House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill.