We’re Building a Sustainability Workforce Training Center!
About the project
People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH Buffalo) is starting construction of a 2,500 sq. ft. Sustainability Workforce Training Center (SWTC) on the West side of Buffalo, NY! The mission of PUSH Buffalo, and this Sustainability Workforce Training Center, is to mobilize residents to create strong neighborhoods with quality, affordable housing; to expand local hiring opportunities; and to advance economic and environmental justice. The SWTC is primarily funded by an Empire State Development Workforce Development Challenge grant.
The property is currently being used by PUSH Buffalo to store landscaping supplies and property maintenance equipment. The vacant garage on Hampshire Street will be removed. In total, the combined area of the two parcels is approximately 0.31 acres.
In 2019 New York State passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. This act mandates that New York State has 100% zero-emission electricity by 2040, and that 40% of climate and energy funding be invested in environmental justice communities. A key foundational goal of the SWTC and PUSH Buffalo is to aid in meeting climate and energy standards while also increasing access for BIPOC communities in the fields of clean energy and sustainability. This site was originally a gas station, and we are excited to see this site go from a gas station to a training center for Clean Energy Careers!
Please see below for frequently asked questions. Thank you for your interest!
PUSH Buffalo is building a Sustainability Workforce Training Center on the West Side.
Construction is anticipated to last 12 months, though the timeline may change due to weather and other conditions.
Construction will be from 7AM-4PM, Monday through Friday. There may be exceptions to this on weekends and after 4PM, but only under extreme circumstances.
The Sustainability Workforce Training Center will help people get more involved in Green and Sustainable Building practices. It will help people understand how to build better and more insulated homes, without using utilities like National Fuel or National Grid.
Construction should not impact traffic on the street, except for times where there may be a big delivery and a supplier may have to back into or pull into the site to unload things. Most construction will be on the actual work site.
The training center will be open to people interested in building the skills and connections they need for a career in the Clean Energy Trades. This could be designing or installing solar systems, high performance insulation, heat pumps, and more! The SWTC is will target its programming to under and unemployed individuals, Black, Indigenous and People of Color, low-income individuals and those living in environmental justice areas.
At this moment we do not foresee parking being an issue for residents and community. There is the potential for onsite and off-street parking. Development of it is to be determined.
If you have any questions, please contact De’yron Tabb, Community Development Project Manager for the project at deyron@pushbuffalo.org and 716 939-1665.
It will be located at the 169 Arkansas Street and 298 Hampshire Street locations (Google Maps).
