Green Jobs Academy gets boost
Bucks County Courier Times
October 28, 2009

PHILADELPHIA, PA — A plan to create a green jobs training site in Bucks County got a boost of energy Monday morning.

Along with area business leaders, educators and local politicians, Congressman Patrick Murphy, D-8, announced that almost $800,000 in federal funds will help establish the Green Jobs Academy at the Bridge Business Center in Bristol Township.

“The Green Jobs Academy will be critical in fostering economic growth in Bucks by training workers in the clean, green energy jobs of the future,” Murphy said. “This model will prepare students to enter a new, hightech work force and will remove a major hurdle to the development of renewable energy.”

Bucks County Community College, Bucks County Technical High School, Drexel University, Delaware Valley College and Veterans Green Jobs have all been partnering on the program.

The money will be used for a program director, curriculum and state-of-the-art equipment, said Murphy. The groups are hoping to refurbish and utilize between 8,000 and 10,000 square feet of an 110,000-squarefoot building for the school by spring 2010.

The school is just a part of Doylestown’s Keystone Redevelopment Group LLC’s effort to rehab several former Rohm & Haas research and development buildings totaling 300,000 square feet to lease laboratory space to companies in the life sciences fields. It also plans to build and lease another 60,000 square feet of space on the 35-acre property off Route 413 on George Patterson Boulevard.

Tuition at the Green Jobs Academy could cost $75 per course and up. Classes could include green aspects of building, roofing, heating and air conditioning and electric, said Barbara Miller, vice president of BCCC’s continuing education, work force development and public safety.

Dow, Lockheed Martin, AE Polysilicon, Gamesa, PECO and Rhodia also will help with on-site training and job placement, said Rob Loughery of the Bridge Business Center.

“Nothing happens without excellent partners … and a team of people committed to doing something well,” said James Linksz, BCCC president. “I believe the return on investment will be great for the community and the individuals we train.”

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