Finch’s Conservation Corps Hits The Streets

 News release from Mayor Bill Finch:

As Mayor Bill Finch’s campaign for summer youth employment opportunities continues to benefit Park City kids and families, today he’s announcing another 40 summer jobs for kids. These new jobs are created as part of Mayor Finch’s Conservation Corps, which is a program that consists of a cadre of young adults–ranging from ages 17-21–who canvass city neighborhoods.

While canvassing neighborhoods in the state’s largest city, Conservation Corps members speak with residents about a number of issues, including: recycling, stormwater management via rain barrel use, tree planting, and offering the opportunity to sign up for home energy audits. Since hitting the streets on July 22, Conservation Corps members have signed up more than 230 households for rain barrels, nearly 140 households for energy audits, and over 35 households for Bridgeport’s Adopt-A-Tree program.

“As the father of four kids, and as the CEO of our state’s largest city, I strongly believe that there are several benefits to our summer jobs for kids program,” said Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch. “We’re teaching kids valuable skills that will help prepare them for college and to compete for 21st century jobs. We’re improving the quality of life in our city by promoting energy efficiency and clean energy use, which will help ensure our kids breathe cleaner air. And, we’re creating jobs that help make our city a better place to live, grow, and raise a family.”

This news comes shortly after the release of a new study that shows teenagers with summer jobs gain a competitive advantage later in life, according to the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business. The study also shows that kids who develop early knowledge of the working world and how to manage it are more likely to find good jobs and earn more money in the future.

And, due to a new partnership between the City of Bridgeport and Posigen Solar Solutions–a national clean energy company that provides homeowners with affordable leases for solar panel installation and use–Mayor Finch’s Conservation Corps added 10 new employment opportunities for youth when compared to 2013. This brings the total number of summer youth employment opportunities by the City of Bridgeport to nearly 300 in 2014.

“Today we’re not just helping one homeowner at a time, we’re working to transform entire underserved communities,” said Aaron Dirks, Chairman of PosiGen Solar Solutions. “Our goal is to address the serious need for low-cost renewable power and energy efficiency upgrades, while providing employment opportunities in a business the average teenager might not experience on their own.”

Mayor Finch’s Conservation Corps initially kicked off in 2009. Since then, the program has managed to assist nearly 9,000 households with becoming more energy efficient and weather resilient.

“We’re investing in our future by making Bridgeport one of the greenest cities in America,” said Mayor Finch who also serves as co-chair for the U.S. Conference of Mayor Climate Protection Task Force. “We’re training workers for 21st century jobs. The Conservation Corps plays a major role in doing just that.”

The Conservation Corps is run by the City of Bridgeport and led by Program Director Wilfred E. Murphy. Partners in the program include The Workplace, Lighthouse Afterschool Program, and Posigen Solar Solutions.