According to the Rhode Island Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council two nationally recognized, green building workshops have been approved as eligible training programs under the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA). "The Rhode Island Green Building Council is the first USGBC chapter in the nation whose classes have been approved for WIA training dollars," said Gwyn Jones, a Rhode Island native and administrator with the national organization in Washington, DC. "We are impressed with Rhode Island's initiative and watching closely to see if this model can be successfully adopted across the country," said Jones.
The first workshop in the series, a nontechnical course called "LEED Core Concepts & Strategies" will take place at New England Institute of Technology in Warwick on November 23. This 8-hour workshop is intended for students, property owners, facilities managers, emerging or experienced green designers, engineers, builders and product manufacturers as well as service providers such as realtors, appraisers, trades people, attorneys and government officials.
The second, more advanced workshop slated for early next year is titled "Building, Design and Construction, the LEED Implementation Process".
While many of the workshops participants will pay regular tuition, those who are unemployed or underemployed may qualify for free tuition through the Workforce Investment Act. "We are delighted to be able to offer such reputable courses that will expose people to new career paths they might not have otherwise thought possible due to their financial situation," said Connie McGreavy, founder and chair of the RI Green Building Council who spearheaded the initiative. The chapter has also initiated discussions with the RI Dept. of Corrections and the Exeter Job Corps Academy.
The training aligns well with the state's Strategic Workforce Plan objectives aimed at increasing the competitiveness of Rhode Island workers. "The green economy is emerging as one of the largest job sectors in this country, and it is critical our workforce has the proper training to be successful," said governor Donald Carcieri. "With effective training and support programs, our workforce can meet the growing demands of a green economy."
WIA training programs are designed to increase an individual's employability through education and the acquisition of new job skills. Officials at the RI Dept. of Labor emphasize that people must first be determined eligible and suitable for WIA training before they enroll, in order to have tuition paid through WIA funds. Those interested should first sign up for a WIA Training orientation, held weekly at one of four netWORKri One-Stop Career Centers across the state.
The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.

LEED addresses all building types and emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies in five areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resources selection and indoor environmental quality. Mastery of the content prepares individuals for the popular new Green Associate credential and is required for the new LEED AP+ (Accredited Professional) designation recently launched by the national Green Building Certification Institute. Individuals who pass an exam will be attractive to employers in the green building market place.
For more information on the specifics of the workshops, visit the RI Green Building Council web page at www.usgbcri.org.
The primary mission of the RI Green Building Council, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is to transform the way buildings are designed, built and operated in the state of Rhode Island in order to promote environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, aesthetically pleasing and durable communities that protect the state's cultural heritage and natural environment.
The U.S. Green Building Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building certification program, robust educational offerings and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities.