Pathways to Green Jobs |
A partnership with the Asheville-Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM), Pathways to Green Jobs is designed to train and place eligible Asheville adults in green collar jobs—jobs that improve environmental and community health. Participants receive life skills training, nationally recognized technical certifications, case management and job placement services at no cost.

As part of the collaboration, Green Opportunities is providing weatherization technician training to 200 eligible participants over an 18-month period, and placing 100 participants in green jobs. Successful participants will receive a nationally-recognized “Air Sealing Technician” certification from the Building Performance Institute (BPI). A BPI affiliate, GO is one of five programs in the country equipped to provide this new certification.

In order to receive placement services, Pathways to Green Jobs participants are required to complete additional trainings and work experience hours as well. Modeled after the GO Training Team curriculum for youth, the Pathways to Green Jobs curriculum combines life skills training, technical skills training, eco-social-justice literacy and work experience.
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Services Currently Offered
Weatherization Technician
- Learn a whole house approach to energy effiency
- Install products addressing air infiltration, sealing, insulation, window leaks, etc.
- Construction experience helpful
Building Analyst
- Learn to identify home energy efficiency problems
- Diagnose root causes and prioritize solutions based on building science
- Construction experience required
Biofuels Technician
- Learn to collect and render vegetable oil into biofuel
- Clean driving record required
Solar Thermal Installer
- Learn to install collectors, water heaters, piping, insulation ad connecting systems
- Plumbing or electrical experience preferred
- Pending approval, availability to be determined
LEED Green Associate
- Gain basic knowledge of environmental impacts and green building solutions related to site, water, energy and indoor environmental quality
- Learn about materials for green building design and construction
- Design, construction or realty experience helpful
- Pending approval, availability to be determined
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Eligibility
You must meet both of the below:
- Live in a target Asheville neighborhood
- Be 18 years of age or over
You must meet only one of the below:
- Unemployed or underemployed, or
- Low income and looking to increase job skills, or
- Criminal record, or
- Without high school diploma
Veterans and eligible spouses are prioritzed
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Pathways to Green Jobs Contact Information:
For more information on the program contact Anthony Thomas as 828-398-4158 or anthony(at)greenopportunities.org. For a more detailed description, click here or call ABCCM at 828-259-5300.
If you'd like to fill out an application, you can do it here.

