St. Petersburg, Fla. - January 13, 2010 - Congresswoman Kathy Castor and Congressman Bill Young announced today that Boley Centers has been awarded a $2.3 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to create a green jobs training program for young adults who are disadvantaged and unemployed and living in St. Petersburg's Midtown.

This 24-month program will serve approximately 225 young adults, ages 18-27.  Boley Centers will provide assessment, training, pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship and on the job training required for high growth and emerging green industries, including energy efficiency and renewable energy.  Each participant will be assigned a Green Employment Consultant who will help define an individual training, education and career path.  The following areas will be emphasized - remedial education/GED through Pinellas County School system, skills training utilizing the National Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (NJATC) Green Jobs Curriculum for the Electrical Industry, energy efficiency and entrepreneurship training.  It is expected that 125 of the participants will be placed into unsubsidized employment.

Program partners include Pinellas County School System, St. Petersburg College, Pinellas Technical Education Centers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 915, Operation PAR, Solar Source, greater Home Development, WorkNet Pinellas, Progress Energy, All Wall Construction and Catholic Charities.  A total of 38 grants were awarded nationwide, with four in Florida, with the money coming out of President Obama's "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009."