CHICAGO –Today, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced that Greencorps Chicago, the City’s green industry training program for individuals with barriers to employment, is now accepting applications for paid positions in its 2022 class. The training program starts in late March and candidates are encouraged to apply before the end of February to maximize the chance of acceptance.  

"The City remains strongly committed to creating employment opportunities for all of our residents and removing barriers for those who face challenges entering the job market," said Mayor Lightfoot. "Thanks to Greencorps, we are able to make this commitment a reality and harness the talents of those who have been excluded from the workforce for far too long. I am incredibly proud and grateful for the great work Greencorps is doing to connect our residents with employment opportunities while bolstering the green economy in our city." 

The mission of the CDOT-administered Greencorps program is to empower residents from Chicago’s underserved neighborhoods to create change in their lives and communities through training, service, and career opportunities in environmental fields.  

“Greencorps Chicago provides a potentially life-changing opportunity for Chicagoans who face challenges breaking into the job market. It allows them to earn a wage and acquire marketable skills and experience that prepare them for a career in the growing green job sector,” CDOT Commissioner Gia Biagi said. “We encourage City residents who have an interest in working outdoors and making Chicago a better place to live to apply for a spot in Greencorps’ next class.” 

Greencorps trainees earn $15-an-hour and receive on-the-job training in the field and classroom. Field training takes place while working on projects for the Chicago Park District, the Cook County Forest Preserves, City vacant lots, and other project partners. Greencorps trainees also help build community gardens in neighborhoods that are part of Mayor Lightfoot’s INVEST South/West initiative, a program designed to revitalize communities that have suffered from a legacy of underinvestment. 

In the classroom, trainees will learn about horticulture, ecology, green infrastructure, tree care, pesticide use, and other topics. Greencorps trainees are also offered a number of professional certifications including First Aid/CPR, OSHA Hazardous Waste Operator, OSHA 10-Hour Safety, Chicago Wilderness Prescription Burn Class, the Illinois Pesticide license, and others.  

Throughout their time with Greencorps, trainees are supported with social services, mentoring, and professional coaching, increasing their ability to secure full-time employment upon completion of the training.  

Trainees also have access to a placement coordinator that works with graduates to identify successful employment matches and complete post placement follow-up. Greencorps grads have gone on to work at the Chicago Park District, the ecological restoration company Cardno, the Cook County Forest Preserves, and many other businesses and organizations. 

Interested candidates who want to apply for the Greencorps Chicago 2022 program should visit the website – https://greencorpschicago.org/how-to-apply-2/ - 

or call 312-746-9777.  

Follow Greencorps Chicago on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Greencorps-Chicago/254395609920