KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The University of Tennessee got a grant to help it fill an intermediary role in a growing labor market, dubbed "the green economy."
The grant is worth $750,000 and comes from the Jobs for the Future Quality Green Jobs Regional Challenge. The money will go towards East Tennessee Works, an initiative that will bridge employers and job seekers in manufacturing and green construction.
The initiative will specifically focus on inner-city communities in Knoxville and rural Southern Appalachian. Jobs for the Future said the initiative would work to strengthen ties with training services, labor and social support. It will also work to facilitate job-matching services, creating a flexible approach to connect students and adult learners with employers.
The initiative will be led by Jon Shefner and Stephanie Bohon, both sociologists, along with associate professor Mitsunori Misawa. UT said it aims to put 5,000 East Tennessee workers on a path to get jobs in the green economy over the next 3 years.
A release from UT said it has been working with organizations in Knox, Anderson and Campbell counties to effectively create a pipeline of workers into the green economy. Those include TELOS Global, a Caryville manufacturer that provides parts for electric vehicles, and Socially Equal Energy Efficient Development, a Knoxville nonprofit that builds energy-efficient homes for low-income families.
The grant also marks the final round of funding under the Jobs for the Future regional challenge, according to UT.