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Climate-Resilient Employees for a Sustainable Tomorrow (CREST)
Project

Climate-Resilient Employees for a Sustainable Tomorrow (CREST)

April 20, 2023

At a Glance

To build an inclusive, resilient economy, more workers will need to be equipped with skills needed to navigate a growing green economy.

Contributors
Taj Ahmad Eldridge Managing Director
Kristina Francis Executive Director, JFFLabs
Practices & Centers Topics

As that world adapts to a changing climate, we are committed to accelerating equality of opportunity in an expanding green economy. Climate-Resilient Employees for a Sustainable Tomorrow (CREST) is a five-year, $25 million grant-funded initiative of the in partnership with World Resources Institute, whose goal is to close the gap between the demand for a skilled workforce for green jobs and the number of people prepared for these opportunities. ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵing with our partners and local communities, we can deepen our impact, harness new opportunities, and help create a green, resilient future that benefits generations to come.

Announcement
ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ Awards Nearly $5 Million to U.S. Regions to Advance Economic Mobility Through Green Jobs Skilling
Six regions will receive $750,000 each to help train and place at least 25,000 individuals in high-quality green jobs to better foster economic mobility and community resiliency.

JFF's Quality Green Jobs Regional Challenge

Map of the United States highlighting regions with text boxes describing clean energy and workforce initiatives in Oregon, Colorado, Tennessee, New York, North Carolina, and Louisiana.

Training and Placing 25,000 Individuals in Quality Green Jobs

We launched the Quality Green Jobs Regional Challenge to directly invest nearly $5 million in communities to develop and implement regional quality green job strategies. In Phase 1 of the challenge, 20 regions deepened their understanding of regional needs, risks, and opportunities at the intersection of climate and workforce development. In Phase 2, 10 semifinalists advanced to develop strategies for training individuals and placing them in quality green jobs. In of the challenge, six finalists will train and place over 25,000 individuals in high-quality green jobs, fostering environmental sustainability and economic advancement.

Meet the Finalists

The Issue

A Gap Between Labor Market Demands and a Skilled ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵforce Ready to Meet Them

Climate change is causing economic shifts across all industries, requiring workers with new skills and capabilities. Yet there is a gap between the demand for a skilled workforce for green jobs and the number of people prepared for these opportunities. While philanthropy frequently funds workforce readiness initiatives, there has yet to be a strong focus on preparing individuals with the skills necessary for the expanding number of green jobs. To build an inclusive and resilient economy, more workers will need skills to navigate the growing green economy, including individuals from low-income households, people of color, women of all backgrounds, and members of other populations that are underrepresented in fields that offer opportunities for economic advancement.

Our Approach

Data-Driven Solutions to Climate Challenges Through Career Preparation and Reskilling

Current approaches to economic and workforce development need to be adapted to the changing climate. Ares Charitable Foundation is partnering with ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ (JFF) and World Resources Institute (WRI) to design and deliver scalable solutions in the United States and India. CREST brings together leading nonprofit research and innovation organizations to advance our goals of equal opportunity in an expanding green economy. JFF will help prepare an inclusive and skilled green workforce through research, job training, identification of regional solutions, and support for climate innovators.

Quality Jobs. Green Future.

Woman smiling outdoors in a city setting with modern buildings and greenery in the background.

A Digital Storytelling Platform

“QualityJobs. Green Future” is the latest edition of the climate-focused digital magazine from JFF and ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵingNation, with support from Ares Charitable Foundation, that features stories about how leaders across the green economy are working to build an equitable green future.