Green Jobs

Communities embracing green infrastructure for stormwater management are not only reaping water quality benefits, they're building healthier communities, empowering citizens, and creating jobs.

Green Jobs

In order for communities to fully embrace green infrastructure--which is often and erroneously perceived as costly and even "job-killing"--the case for cost effectiveness, mutliple community benefits, and job creation potential needs to be made again and again. Across the nation, more and more cities are proving that green Infrastructure IS improving water quality cost effectively; IS making for communities healthier, safer, and more livable; and that it IS spurring economic development. From design and installation to ongoing maintenance, there's a growing niche supporting green infrastructure: besides creating new opportunities within existing sectors like landscaping, paving, and building, entire new industries are emerging. And this is only the start...

 

Visit the Full case study page for more information >>

Together with our partners at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF), U.S. Forest Service Philadelphia Field Station, and Philadelphia Dept of Parks and Recreation (PPR), we've been involved in developing a Training Curriculum to introduce key concepts in GSI. Maintaining Green Infrastructure Stormwater Systems has been piloted in the City of Philadelphia and we're proud to say that it's resulting in greener cityscapes, healthier waterways, inspired job-seekers--and, yes, trainees with jobs!

After watching the Healthy Urban Waters video, dig into the Training Modules to learn more about green infrastructure, how to recognize whether various types of "green tools" are doing well or are in need of help, and what to do to maintain the systems so they function the way they were planned. We hope you'll learn something new and gain some inspiration. Who knows, this may serve as the launchpad that takes your interest in gardening to a whole different level--and sends you off on an exciting green career!

Greening Cities Cleans Water, Improves Health, Creates Jobs

Green Infrastructure Benefits

Image from Gray to Green: Jumpstarting Private Investment in Green Infrastructure

There has been debate about the effectiveness of green infrastructure, apprehension that all GSI efforts are expensive, and misinformation stating that investing in Clean Water costs communities jobs. As more urban areas adopt green practices, there's a growing body of evidence showing that greening does improve water quality while providing multiple community benefits; that it's often cheaper than "grey" alternatives in the long run; and that it actually boosts local economies by creating jobs, not driving them away.

Don't just take our word for it. Check out some of these reports:

The Value of Green Infrastructure: A Guide to Recognizing its Economic, Environmental and Social Benefits

Banking on Green: A Look at how Green Infrastructure Can Save Muncipalities Money and Provide Economic Benefits Community-Wide

Water Works: Rebuilding Infrastructure, Creating Jobs, Greening the Environment

Gray to Green: Jumpstarting Private Investment in Green Stormwater Infrastructure 

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