WASHINGTON, DC (October 15, 2015) – After the announcement by the White House today of 36 Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative awards totaling $15 million, the BlueGreen Alliance released the following statement from Executive Director Kim Glas:

“Today’s awards will help communities and partnerships to create comprehensive economic development strategies for their region.

“We appreciate the Obama administration’s efforts to ensure that impacted workers and communities get the help they need to manage the transition to clean energy. We also applaud the administration for listening to organizations like ours who have been calling for a comprehensive, inter-agency approach to transition and creating these programs. The BlueGreen Alliance has and will continue to work with stakeholders in impacted communities to develop a plan and to implement economic development and job creation strategies like those awarded by the Department of Commerce today.

 “The POWER grants are an important first step, but we should and can do much more. We urge Congress to take action to ensure impacted workers and communities get the resources they need to drive economic development and create and secure quality family-sustaining jobs.”