02.18.10 Workshop: Green Collar Jobs and the Emerging Green Tech Economy
Thursday, February 18
8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Oakton Community College, Room 1606
1600 E Golf Road in Des Plaines, Illinois
The conference “Green Collar Jobs and the Emerging Green Tech Economy” (co-sponsored by Oakton Community College, Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Council, the Workforce Board and the Delta Institute) offered a fine introduction to some key trends and issues driving the development of the green economy in our communities and throughout the region.
This workshop will help conference participants and others from the area delve deeper into the opportunities available to them in the green economy and provide hands-on guidance for developing green economy action plans for businesses, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and individuals. Delta Institute will lead the workshop.
Workshop Description
The green economy is expected to contribute billions of dollars and generate millions of jobs in the coming decades. Encouraged by federal economic incentives and state and local stimulus spending, businesses, community leaders and employment specialists want to know how to tap into this emerging sector to enhance competitiveness and promote economic recovery. Based on key findings from Delta Institute’s own research and other current resources, this six-hour workshop is designed to help participants understand the dynamics of the green economy and prepare themselves to grow with this emerging sector. Participants will discover how to turn existing assets and potential liabilities into opportunities for business activity and local economic development in industries such as renewable energy, green building and waste management, as well as helping making existing businesses more sustainable. The workshop will include hands-on exercises, tools and resources for developing individualized green economic strategies, along with case studies of successful green business and municipal initiatives. The session will also highlight current challenges facing the green economy and explain how individual businesses, organizations and groups can play a role in advocating for green-friendly policies.
