GREEN OPPORTUNITIESA bottom-up approach to green economic

development and community transformation

Dan Leroy and Torin KexelDecember 5, 2009

(828) 398-4158www.greenopportunities.org

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 SupportPhase 1:Pre- Apprenticeship

Life Skills Training

Case Management

Service Learning Projects

Background Knowledge

Academic SupportPhase 1:Pre- Apprenticeship

Phase 2:Apprenticeship Apprenticeship (ON THE JOB

TRAINING)

Life Skills Training

Case Management

Service Learning Projects

Background Knowledge

Academic SupportPhase 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 PartnersAllegra PrintingBoBo GalleryCharlotte Street ComputersConservation ProsEarth FareFirmWorksFLS EnergyThe Green SageLiving Roofs, Inc.Little Mountain BuildersProgress EnergyRosetta’s KitchenSecond GearSperry Van Ness SmartBuildersSundance Power SystemsThePermaWebWinter GreenWNC Energy

Funding PartnersCommunity Foundation of Western North CarolinaConservation FundFord FoundationPigeon River FundProgress EnergyRolander Family FoundationUS Department of EducationUS Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentUS Department of JusticeZ. Smith Reynolds Foundation

Community PartnersARP PhoenixAsheville TAASCMount Carmel Baptist ChurchThe Phil Mechanic Building

68 Partners in 16 Months of Operation

Strategic PartnersAshevillage 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 PartnersArtisan 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 OPPORTUNITIESA bottom-up approach to green economic

development and community transformation

Dan Leroy and Torin KexelDecember 5, 2009

(828) 398-4158www.greenopportunities.org