Green Jobs: The Los Angeles Apollo Alliance

Shaping a New Equitable Green Economy

SCOPE convened the Los Angeles Apollo Alliance in February 2006, and launched a 3-5 year public policy campaign to ensure that low income communities are strategically connected to the job creation and environmental returns of an emerging green economy.  Our research indicated that the development of a Green Industry in Los Angeles has the potential to revitalize inner city communities through quality job creation, career ladder training, and healthy, sustainable economic development.

The Los Angeles Apollo Alliance Green Jobs Initiative aims to train and place low income communities for careers in the green manufacturing and green building sectors. Twenty-four organizations from the community, environmental and labor sectors developed an initial proposal to "green" Los Angeles' over 1000 city-owned buildings as an opportunity to stimulate local economic development and introduce cleaner, green technologies to inner city communities.

On August 16, 2006, Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa, City Council President Eric Garcetti and City Councilman Herb Wesson signed a commitment to accept the "Apollo Challenge" and work with the Alliance to shape a green workforce development strategy. 

In 2008, we launched our Green Retrofit Workforce Initiative and on April 8, 2009 City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance to begin green retrofits all city buildings and connect low-income communities to the jobs created by this large scale city project (Click here for our press release).  This year, we will also  launch our Green Career Ladder Training Program to begin training and placing low income residents in union apprenticeship programs and green jobs.

The Los Angeles Apollo Alliance is also part of a national network of other state and local Apollo Alliances that work on policy initiatives to advance clean energy and good jobs. To learn more about the Apollo Alliance, click here.