In these hard economic times, it's good to hear positive news about young men and women participating in green job training. One school highlighted recently in the news is Sierra College in Rocklin, CA. Officials there applied for a grant through the Center for Applied Competitive Technologies, and are now offering a course for California Conservation Corps members out of Auburn, CA.

This course, titled Technical Education in Energy Efficiency and Construction, will prepare students in topics such as weatherization, energy efficiency, and alternative energy. With the grant Sierra College put together this 128 hour course that will gain students entry-level employment in the Energy Efficiency Construction Industry. The hope is that this course will serve as a model for the rest of the state, and that job opportunities will be filled across the same area. According to a recent study, the Sacramento Region of the state is expected to have the highest rate of green job growth through 2012, introducing as many as 3,530 jobs!

I hope that successes like this won't be few and far between, but instead will become the norm. This group of students is part of our future, and will be some of the first individuals labeled as 'green collar.' We need more grants and opportunities not only in California, but throughout the nation. 

If you know of local programs in your area, let us know in the comments, or send us the news through our site here.