We, the residents of Tennessee, believe a green recovery is essential for the state's distressed communities. We are asking you to use a significant portion of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (also referred to as Federal stimulus funds) to assist Tennesseans experiencing the daily struggles of paying for food, housing, transportation, and child care.
The $4.5 Billion of Federal stimulus funds allocated to the state provides a unique opportunity to assist Tennessee's unemployed residents, who now make up 9.6% of the state's population. It also offers an opportunity to help the tens of thousands of Tennesseans who have barriers to employment, including unemployed veterans, underemployed residents, disconnected youth, formerly incarcerated persons, and high-school drop-outs.
Green jobs build on the capacities of local businesses and workers, and can be increased by expanding and retooling existing training programs to meet the new demands of a green economy. Putting a significant portion of the Federal stimulus funds into "Green-Collar Jobs Training Programs" can create pathways to gainful employment, career advancement, and economic self-sufficiency for Tennesseans from distressed communities. Effective "Green-Collar Jobs Training Programs" must also be accompanied with workforce development programs that are specifically tailored to meet the needs of the unemployed and individuals with barriers to employment.
We ask that you support a green recovery for everyone in Tennessee, and that you support "Green-Collar Training Programs" for Tennessee's distressed communities.
