GREEN OPPORTUNITIES A bottom-up approach to green economic development and community transformation Dan Leroy and Torin Kexel December 5, 2009 (828)

What is GO? An emerging nonprofit organization

What is GO? An emerging nonprofit organization Mission: To build a strong and just green economy in WNC from the bottom up through green collar job training, community education and green microenterprises.

What is GO? An emerging nonprofit organization Mission: To build a strong and just green economy in WNC from the bottom up through green collar job training, community education and green microenterprises. Two primary programs: –Asheville Green Opportunities Training Team –GO Energy Team

What is GO? An emerging nonprofit organization Mission: To build a strong and just green economy in WNC from the bottom up through green collar job training, community education and green microenterprises. Two primary programs: –Asheville Green Opportunities Training Team –GO Energy Team

Asheville GO Green collar job training and placement

Asheville GO Green collar job training and placement Target Audience: Disconnected Youth and Young Adults –16-24 year olds –No job –Not in school –Low-income households –Barriers to employment

Asheville GO Green collar job training and placement Target Audience: Disconnected Youth and Young Adults –16-24 year olds –No job –Not in school –Low-income households –Barriers to employment West Riverside Weed and Seed District

Service-Learning

Life Skills

Community College

Case Management

Apprenticeship

Living wage, green collar employment

Apprenticeship (ON THE JOB TRAINING) Living wage, green collar employment

Life Skills Training Case Management Service Learning Projects Background Knowledge Academic Support Phase 1: Pre- Apprenticeship

Life Skills Training Case Management Service Learning Projects Background Knowledge Academic Support Phase 1: Pre- Apprenticeship Phase 2: Apprenticeship Apprenticeship (ON THE JOB TRAINING)

Life Skills Training Case Management Service Learning Projects Background Knowledge Academic Support Phase 1: Pre- Apprenticeship Phase 2: Apprenticeship Apprenticeship (ON THE JOB TRAINING) Living wage, green collar employment

GO Energy Team Training and employment opportunities for target audience in Energy Efficiency careers

GO Energy Team Training and employment opportunities for target audience in Energy Efficiency careers Provide low-cost (or free) energy audits and weatherization services to community members

GO Energy Team Training and employment opportunities for target audience in Energy Efficiency careers Provide low-cost (or free) energy audits and weatherization services to community members Reduce energy consumption

GO Energy Team Training and employment opportunities for target audience in Energy Efficiency careers Provide low-cost (or free) energy audits and weatherization services to community members Reduce energy consumption Financial benefits in the form of cost- savings on utilities

Future Directions More microenterprises –Ecological restoration and Native landscaping –Sustainable food production –Solar hot water –Green “labor-ready” –Manufacturing

Future Directions More microenterprises –Ecological restoration and Native landscaping –Sustainable food production –Solar hot water –Green “labor-ready” –Manufacturing Youth education programs

Future Directions More microenterprises –Ecological restoration and Native landscaping –Sustainable food production –Solar hot water –Green “labor-ready” –Manufacturing Youth education programs Green Opportunities Center

Partnerships

Business Partners Allegra Printing BoBo Gallery Charlotte Street Computers Conservation Pros Earth Fare FirmWorks FLS Energy The Green Sage Living Roofs, Inc. Little Mountain Builders Progress Energy Rosetta’s Kitchen Second Gear Sperry Van Ness SmartBuilders Sundance Power Systems ThePermaWeb Winter Green WNC Energy Funding Partners Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Conservation Fund Ford Foundation Pigeon River Fund Progress Energy Rolander Family Foundation US Department of Education US Department of Housing and Urban Development US Department of Justice Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation Community Partners ARP Phoenix Asheville TAASC Mount Carmel Baptist Church The Phil Mechanic Building 68 Partners in 16 Months of Operation Strategic Partners Ashevillage Institute Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville Design Center Asheville High School Asheville TAASC Buncombe County Gang Violence Prevention Project Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy City of Asheville Clean Air Community Trust Clean Water for North Carolina Community Action Opportunities Housing Authority of the City of Asheville Land of Sky Regional Council The Mediation Center Mountain Area Workforce Development Board Mountain Housing Opportunities On-Track Financial Education Randolph Learning Center University of North Carolina, Asheville Warren Wilson College Western North Carolina Green Building Council West Riverside Weed and Seed District Project Partners Artisan Builders Collective Bountiful Cities Project Burton Street Community Peace Garden Community Action Opportunities French Broad Watershed Training Center Habitat for Humanity, Asheville Chapter Long Branch Environmental Education Center Nauhaus Institute Pisgah View Community Peace Garden RiverLink Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy The Red Cross, Asheville Chapter Town of Black Mountain

GREEN OPPORTUNITIES A bottom-up approach to green economic development and community transformation Dan Leroy and Torin Kexel December 5, 2009 (828)