San Diego Foundation Grows Local Green Workforce and Industry with $180K in Grants

December 15, 2022 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Foundation announced today $180,000 in grants to local nonprofits to expand access and training for opportunity youth, or 16- to 24-year-olds not in school or working, in green industry jobs such as urban forestry, agriculture, solar installation and climate stewardship and advocacy.

“The effects of COVID-19 have amplified existing inequalities for our region’s opportunity youth; many of whom are still experiencing social isolation, job loss and other negative impacts,” said Christiana DeBenedict, Director, Environment Initiatives, San Diego Foundation. “This grant opportunity was developed to strengthen the green job pipeline in the San Diego region.”

Made possible through the support of the County of San Diego, San Diego Foundation additionally collaborated with Youth Will and San Diego Workforce Partnership to build upon the previous grant cycle, strengthening workforce development for opportunity youth in the region.

“These grants redouble our commitment to our new countywide initiative to help young people secure the green careers that will define not only their future, but the future of our entire region,” said Terra Lawson-Remer, member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “These investments in a youth green jobs program are an acknowledgment that our economy can’t fully recover until young people recover — and have equitable access to the green economy of tomorrow.”

The San Diego County Amplifying Systems of Support for Youth Career Readiness and Employment grant program directly supports opportunity youth and provides them with quality career readiness, workforce development and mentorship opportunities with a focus on access to green jobs and green spaces.  Grant funding for the green jobs program was provided by the County of San Diego as part of its Youth Environmental/Recreation Corp launched last year by a proposal from Supervisors Lawson-Remer and Nora Vargas. This cycle’s new grant recipients include:

San Diego Foundation also provided additional funding to its inaugural green jobs grant recipients, including:

A report published by the San Diego Workforce Partnership estimated that there are 417,000 people in the San Diego region between 16 and 24 years of age. Of that group, 31,000 are considered “opportunity youth,” or those who are not in school or working. Providing this population access to green jobs and training builds a socially inclusive and environmentally conscious workforce. By focusing on opportunity youth, San Diego Foundation and its partners can strengthen the green workforce of the near future and strengthen the regional economy.

About San Diego Foundation

San Diego Foundation inspires enduring philanthropy and enables community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region. Our strategic priorities include advancing racial and social justice, fostering equity of opportunity, building resilient communities, and delivering world-class philanthropy to realize our vision of just, equitable and resilient communities. The Environment Initiative seeks to preserve and protect our resources, build a more sustainable path of economic growth and ensure a higher quality of life for those who call San Diego home. For more than 47 years, SDF and its donors have granted more than $1.45 billion to support nonprofit organizations strengthening our community. Learn more at SDFoundation.org.

Contact

Lorena Nava Ruggero, San Diego Foundation, lruggero@sdfoundation.org, 619-814-1365

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