Chicago officials expand Greencorps job-training
Transportation officials are expanding the Greencorps Chicago job-training program this summer to the city’s southeast side.
The Chicago Department of Transportation announced Thursday work would include boulevard and median landscape maintenance. It will add “an intensive mowing and maintenance training” program to the curriculum.
The program employs people with difficulty finding work. They get classroom training in horticulture, tree care, carpentry, “restoration ecology,” pest management and more. Projects include landscaping, urban forestry, ecological restoration and “brownfield” restoration.
Officials say nearly all of last year’s 22 graduates of a nine-month program are employed or are full-time students pursuing career options.
More boulevard and median maintenance will add up to 12 positions to the 30 trainee positions and 12 supervisory positions.