Job Training Graduation Held at West Edge

The Coalfield Development Corporation hosted its first graduation of the job training program, Reclaim Appalachia.

The two-year Reclaim Appalachia program provides training in environmental service jobs such as asbestos and lead abatement, mold remediation and meth-lab cleanup as well as offering classes on how to install solar power panels. 

Those in the program are laid off from jobs in the coal industry or are struggling to find work fresh out of high school. Brandon Dennison is the Executive Director of the Coalfield Development Corporation.

“These 21 graduates today have worked really hard to develop skillsets in environmental remediation and solar panel installation,” Dennison said. “With their own hands these are the people that are going to rebuild the Appalachian economy from the bottom up.”

 Dennison says more than half of the 21 graduates have already obtained employment. A Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training grant funded training. The training started in November.