'Green jobs' grant going to Salt Lake area

A "green jobs" training grant totaling more than $1.9 million was awarded Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Labor to benefit five areas in the U.S., including Salt Lake City.

The funds were awarded to the National Ironworkers and Employers Apprenticeship Training and Journeyman Upgrading Fund to provide skills training to ironworkers for wind turbine erection and maintenance projects.

The grant is part of nearly $100 million in green jobs training grants, as authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to support job training programs to help dislocated workers and others — including veterans, women, African-Americans and Latinos — find jobs in expanding green industries and related occupations.

Approximately $28 million of total funds will support projects in communities affected by auto industry restructuring.