Awarded a $700,000 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation, the Greencorps Chicago program will put around 50 people to work for at least nine months.  The U.S. Conference of Mayors selected the city’s program for the grant..

Not exactly stimulus dollars and no long-term jobs, but, hey, we’ll take money to put more people to work and get them trained in the process.  Chicago currently has a 9.3 percent unemployment rate, up 3.8 percent from this time last year.  What does that tell you?  Even short-term jobs are welcome here.

Greencorps Chicago is a program that oversees the city’s community landscaping and provides other green services.  Its initiative includes an annual nine-month job training program that starts in the spring.  Around 50 people are hired and trained every year for the duration of the program.

The program falls under the city’s Department of Environment (DOE), which has partnered with WRD Environmental, an ecological consulting firm.  Greencorps Chicago jobs will focus on eco-restoration, community gardening and landscaping, eco-technology, hazardous waste recycling and weatherizing projects.  The grant money will enable the program to initiate new arborist training and expand its weatherization training.

One of the many cool aspects of this program is that citizens can volunteer to participate, be trained and act as docents for the DOE’s Chicago Center for Green Technology.  The award-winning center is located at 445 N. Sacramento Boulevard in Chicago, holds a platinum LEED rating and is nationally recognized for its green building.

Another advantage to this program is that any local group effort to provide landscaping in public space can receive benefits, including seeds, annuals, perennials, bulbs, vegetables and labor assistance from the city’s landscaping crew all free-of-charge.

Groups have to be certified by the DOE.  For consideration, contact the DOE either by calling (312) 744-8691 or via email at greencorps@cityofchicago.org.  Visit the DOE website for more information.  Do a search on the city’s website for Greencorps Chicago, and click on the first selection that comes up.