South L.A. gets $20 million for jobs and health 

Wave Staff Report

LOS ANGELES — A $20 million federal investment from the Environmental Protection Agency will fund an ambitious initiative to tackle environmental health disparities and create sustainable job opportunities in South Los Angeles.

The funds, provided by the Biden-Harris administration’s landmark Inflation Reduction Act, will power the South LA All In-Good Jobs, Healthy Communities Initiative that will focus on clean energy career pathways in electric vehicle maintenance, welding, weatherization and lead abatement, helping reduce pollution and greenhouse gases through jobs with household-sustaining wages.

At the same time, the initiative will remove lead from residential homes in South L.A. region, improving indoor air quality and reducing lead poisoning in residential homes. Training participants will receive comprehensive support, including connections to employer partners, to secure jobs in the clean energy sector.

The initiative was announced Dec. 2 at a press conference at Los Angeles Trade Technical College.

A key feature of the initiative is the establishment of a climate justice workforce collaborative, which will bring together South L.A. residents, training providers, employers, public agencies and community-based organizations to expand clean energy sector opportunities. 

“This investment is a powerful acknowledgment of the resilience, vision and unwavering spirit of South Los Angeles residents and our coalition of dedicated community partners,” said Mark Wilson, president and CEO of the Coalition for Responsible Community Development. “Together, by tackling environmental injustices and opening doors to quality, sustainable jobs, we’re building more than just economic opportunities — we’re strengthening the very foundation of our community. This initiative ensures that South L.A. families thrive today and are empowered with equitable pathways for future generations.”

Mayor Karen Bass praised the initiative.

“More jobs and opportunities that will make our communities healthier are coming to Los Angeles thanks to this historic federal investment in our workforce,” Bass said. “I am looking forward to seeing the positive impacts that this initiative will bring. Thank you to the Biden-Harris administration for their continued partnership that is leading to positive change in L.A.”

U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove also was on hand for the announcement. 

“I’m proud to celebrate this $20 million grant for organizations doing the groundwork to advance environmental justice here in South Los Angeles,” she said. “This grant will both expand our climate workforce and fund efforts to remove lead paint from homes in South L.A. — a problem impacting 80% of our city’s housing but disproportionately Black and brown communities. I look forward to hearing about the progress and the lives changed by this historic investment in communities that have too often been left behind.”

Los Angeles Trade-Technical College will provide some of the job training for the program.

“Through this partnership, we provide hands-on training that empowers participants with transformative skills and career opportunities,” Alfred McQuarters, president of Trade Tech, said. “This collaboration is not just about individual success; it’s about uplifting entire families and communities while fostering a sustainable future for South Los Angeles.”

Laura Ebbert, environmental justice and community engagement director for the Pacific Southwest Region of th Environmental Protection Agency, called the $20 million investment “historic.”

“It underscores our commitment to environmental justice and workforce equity,” she said. “We at EPA are proudly lifting up critical work in South Los Angeles and standing with communities that have been too often overlooked. This initiative exemplifies how federal resources can bolster communities, protect public health and build pathways toward a sustainable, green economy.”

Additional partners for the South LA All In-Good Jobs, Healthy Communities Initiative include the Community Coalition, the city of Los Angeles Economic & Workforce Development Department, Amity Foundation, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the Los Angeles County Development Authority.