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Their view: Will Joe Biden run? He’ll tell us in a few months

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Earth Conservancy head highlights nonprofit’s role in new economic development project

<p>Recruitment has started for Earth Conservancy&#8217;s 2019 Environmental Workforce Training Program, which will provide free courses in surveying and environmental skills.</p><p>Developed to address the environmental and economic damage left by the mining industry, the program is geared for unemployed, underemployed and dislocated workers in Northeastern Pennsylvania, said Earth Conservancy Communications Director Elizabeth Hughes.</p><p>Penn State Wilkes-Barre, the program&#8217;s education partner, tailored the curriculum to teach skills that may help mend the scars of mining and make participants attractive entry-level technician hires in the environmental, engineering and construction fields, she said.</p><p>The program is underwritten by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant, and the PPL Foundation has provided additional funding support this year, Hughes said.</p><p>Eight classes are included in the 205-hour program: Introduction to Brownfields, Surveying Field Assistant, Basic Surveying Techniques, GIS for Resource Conservation, AutoCAD, HAZWOPER 40, OSHA 10, and First Aid.</p><p>Upon program completion, participants will earn 20.5 hours of continuing education credit from Penn State and three federally-recognized certificates, Hughes said.</p><p>Job placement assistance also is included through Earth Conservancy and local PA CareerLink offices, she said.</p><p>Of the 21 participants in this year&#8217;s program, 90 percent seeking work have obtained employment, Hughes said.</p><p>Earth Conservancy plans to enroll 25 students for the 2019 program, which begins Feb. 1 at the Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus in Lehman Township. Courses will run through mid-April.</p><p>Applicants must be 18 or older, hold a high school diploma or GED, and be a Northeastern Pennsylvania resident, which includes the counties of Luzerne, Lackawanna, Schuylkill, Wayne, Pike, Monroe, Carbon, Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming.</p><p>Veterans will receive priority consideration, Hughes said.</p><p>&#8220;Veterans &#8212; with their technical training, work ethic, ability to work as part of a team and willingness to work outdoors &#8212; are a particularly good fit for the program,&#8221; Hughes said, noting several veterans successfully graduated from this year&#8217;s group.</p><p>Three information sessions have been scheduled at Pa CareerLink offices this month:</p><p>&#8226; Hazleton, 10 a.m. Nov. 8</p><p>&#8226; Lackawanna County, 3 p.m. Nov. 15</p><p>&#8226; Wilkes-Barre, 3 p.m. Nov. 29</p><p>More information about the program, eligibility requirements and applications is available at www.earthconservancy.org, or by calling 570-823-3445 or a local CareerLink office.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_k4pkyf8g.jpeg.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Participants in Earth Conservancy&#8217;s Environmental Workforce Training Program learn map reading skills during a session in February. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_k4pkyf8g.jpeg.jpg</photo0><caption0>Participants in Earth Conservancy&#8217;s Environmental Workforce Training Program learn map reading skills during a session in February. </caption0><photoCredit0>Submitted photos </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_kCVWN_lQ.jpeg.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Two participants in Earth Conservancy&#8217;s Environmental Workforce Training Program practice calculating distances and angles in March. The nonprofit is seeking applicants for the free 2019 program. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_kCVWN_lQ.jpeg.jpg</photo1><caption1>Two participants in Earth Conservancy&#8217;s Environmental Workforce Training Program practice calculating distances and angles in March. The nonprofit is seeking applicants for the free 2019 program. </caption1><photoCredit1>Submitted photos </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jennifer Learn-Andes</p><p>jandes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Earth Conservancy seeking participants for free job training program