State Spotlight: $5 BILLION Investment in California Green Jobs

ARE YOU READY? The green-collar jobs movement is about to take a giant leap forward, thanks to the help of California Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg.

Senator Steinberg just introduced a plan to invest $5 BILLION in green job training in schools, community colleges, and more. 

With input from Ella Baker Center and our coalition allies, Steinberg's SB 675 -- the Clean Technology and Renewable Energy Job Training, Career Education and Dropout Prevention Act -- would provide facilities and equipment to high schools, community colleges, and businesses in order to prepare students and trainees for green careers.   

Even better, due in large part to our efforts, 20% -- equaling $1 BILLION -- of the funds will benefit underrepresented and disadvantaged communities in California. We are especially proud that the bill specifically supports programs that provide green job training for people who have been incarcerated or are at risk of getting caught up in the system. 

We've got good reason to believe that the bill will receive broad support from Californians: in a recent poll commissioned by Ella Baker Center, 80% of the people polled said they thought it was important to invest in creating green-collar jobs! 75% would support green jobs training in middle schools, high schools, and community colleges. And voters are ready to put their money where their mouth is -- a strong majority said they'd support new taxes on oil companies, polluters, or the very wealthy to support green job training. Click here for more detailed poll results.

Thank you for all that you do to advance the Green-Collar Jobs movement. We're thrilled that you are helping us create a California that lifts people up instead of keeping them down.

Green jobs, not jails.

Ian Kim
Ella Baker Center for Human Rights