Frequently Asked Questions

When was Veterans Green Jobs founded?
We were incorporated in February 2008.

How does Veterans Green Jobs help veterans?
We connect military veterans with meaningful employment opportunities in the green jobs economy. Our vision is that these opportunities will provide vets with the security of sustainable income for themselves and their families, professional advancement, a sense of personal fulfillment and purpose, and encouragement and support in being valued leaders and contributors in their chosen fields.

What programs do you offer?
In Colorado, we provide energy efficient upgrades in homes throughout Denver, Jefferson County and the San Luis Valley, at no cost to income-qualifying residents through a program funded by the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office. We also have programs that prepare and train military veterans in land conservation and urban forestry, to equip them with the skills they need to find jobs in the natural resources field. Through a partnership with Bucks County Community College in Pennsylvania, we offer electrical and solar training.

Do you hire veterans directly?
Our training programs, designed exclusively for veteran participants, help veterans successfully transition to civilian society and create a pathway toward employment or education opportunities. Our weatherization program directly hires both veterans and non-veterans to fulfill our contract with the Governor’s Energy Office in cooperation with our service partner, EnergyLogic Solutions, a veteran-owned organization. We hire the most qualified people to do the job, but place a preference on hiring veterans. Regardless of their affiliation, all of our staff members serve our mission of connecting military veterans with meaningful employment opportunities that serve our communities and environment.

What is a green job?
Green jobs provide critical support to increasing our nation’s energy and environmental security. By seeking employment in green jobs, an individual will have an opportunity for increased economic power and diverse career choices, and will become a community leader helping to restore local communities, environments and economies. The U.S. Department of Labor defines green jobs as: jobs in businesses that produce goods or provide services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources, or jobs in which workers’ duties involve making their establishment’s production processes more environmentally friendly or use fewer natural resources.

What is the market for green jobs?
In the renewable energy market alone, there are currently 8.5 million U.S. jobs. By 2030, that number is expected to be closer to 30 million. (Source: American Solar Energy Society)

How many jobs has Veterans Green Jobs created?
Between 2008 and 2010, we created approximately 100 staff positions at Veterans Green Jobs. Since our founding and through the “Great Recession,” we have created more than 30 jobs for veterans and dozens of jobs for community members. And, through partnerships with EnergyLogic Solutions and other employers, we have created approximately 30 additional jobs for veteran and non-veteran community members.

What kinds of training programs do you offer?
All of our programs involve training. Much of the training is “on the job” and includes a combination of classroom and field work; some programs offer certifications.

• In our weatherization program, new hires receive weatherization tech training, full auditing training including Building Performance Institute (BPI) certification, furnace tech training, admin support training and project management, depending on the job.
• Our training program in Pennsylvania offers electrical pre-apprenticeship with solar PV basics.
  Our Veterans Green Corps program offers chainsaw certification, wildland firefighter certification, fire mitigation, wilderness first aid and defensive driver.
• Our Veterans City Canopy program offers urban forestry, tree planting, tree maintenance and basic landscaping training through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on experiences.

How many veterans have been through your training programs?
Across all of our program areas, approximately 200 military veterans have participated in training.

Who are Veterans Green Jobs’ partners?
We strategically partner with a number of entities to maximize opportunities for veterans, the environment and communities. Our partnerships make us stronger and allow us to leverage the successes of established, proven programs. They include public agencies such as the Governor’s Energy Office, the City of Denver and the U.S. Forest Service; private organizations such as EnergyLogic Solutions and Xcel Energy; higher education institutions such as Bucks Community College and Red Rocks Community College; and nonprofit organizations and community organizations such as the Southwest Conservation Corps and the San Luis Valley Rural Electric Co-op. 

Who are your major funders?
Our financial support has come from contracts, grants and donations from the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office, Walmart Foundation, Activision’s Call of Duty Endowment, Sierra Club Foundation and City of Denver. Other funders have included Coors Foundation, Xcel Energy Foundation and individual donors.

What are the eligibility requirements for green jobs for veterans?
Veterans who served for 180 days or more and were discharged under honorable conditions are eligible for our programs. We do not discriminate based on era served. Each Veterans Green Jobs program has its own set of skills and qualifications needed to do the job.