City of Austin tries to create more green jobs, partners with local organizations

The City of Austin logo seen at Austin City Hall on May 15, 2024. (KXAN Photo/Jordan Belt)

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin is working with local organizations to create more green jobs in the area.

It’s doing that through the Green Workforce Accelerator program.

“Help organizations in Austin provide more green jobs, provide training for green jobs and placement for green jobs, and especially providing equitable access to those jobs and careers,” said the city’s Chief Innovation Officer, Daniel Culotta.

On Thursday, ten local organizations celebrated finishing the program. Accelerator participants received a $15,000 grant to support their work during the process.

Applicant’s programs fell into industries like:

• Water management and conservation
• Energy efficiency
• Alternative energy
• Waste management and resource recovery
• Transportation
• Lands, parks and urban agriculture

What are green jobs?

According to the city, green jobs are defined as:

1. involving work that produces goods or services that benefit the environment and or conserve natural resources
2. involving work that makes production processes more environmentally friendly or consuming fewer resources

“Green jobs are really broad. It’s anything that has a sustainable or environmental impact,” Culotta said. “You can work a green job in almost any sector in any career that helps advance those environmental and sustainability goals.”

Is there a local demand?

The City of Austin and the University of Texas conducted a Green Economy Study that highlighted the growing need for these jobs.

“Jobs directed to improving environmental outcomes have grown significantly faster than overall employment both nationally and in the Austin region,” the report said.

The report projected overall green employment in Travis County to grow from 33,695 in 2018 to 38,637 in 2028.

The program ran January through May 2024. Culotta said they’re looking forward to growing it and doing more cohorts in the future.