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GREEN STEWARDS TRAINING PROGRAM

The Green Stewards program was a local workforce development program designed to support the City of Kansas City, Missouri, in day-to-day maintenance and monitoring of green infrastructure installations in areas served by the combined sewer system. Bridging The Gap was contracted to manage the program for six years, ending in October 2024.

GREEN STEWARDS WORKFORCE

GREEN STEWARDS TRAINING PROGRAM

The Green Stewards program was a local workforce development program designed to support the City of Kansas City, Missouri, in day-to-day maintenance and monitoring of green infrastructure installations in areas served by the combined sewer system. Bridging The Gap was contracted to manage the program for six years, ending in October 2024.

BUILDING A GREEN WORKFORCE

The Green Stewards program curriculum included environmental literacy, soft skills, work readiness, hands-on field training and safety certifications. The crew ranged in size from 3-5 members with a crew lead, and an assistant crew lead added in year six. Crew members were taught transferable skills for the workplace and had an opportunity to address barriers to employment. At least 4 of the graduates moved to jobs in the green industry either with the City of Kansas City or Missouri Organic.

PROGRAM IMPACT:

239 green infrastructure installments maintained

28 crew members

19 graduated to full-time employment

10 crew certified in National Green Infrastructure Certification program

58 of 237 applicants from low life expectancy zip codes

A SMARTER, GREENER FUTURE

Kansas City’s green infrastructure installations are designed to reduce stormwater runoff as a part of the KC Smart Sewer program. In 2010, the City of Kansas City, Missouri entered into a Consent Decree with the United States Environmental Protection Agency to reduce the volume and frequency of overflows from the City’s sewer system. Kansas City’s Smart Sewer program is a 25-year plan to address this challenge. This program was the first federally approved Consent Decree in the nation to include green infrastructure as a means to capture stormwater before it enters the sewer collection system.

WHAT IS GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT?

Green infrastructure is an approach to water management that protects, restores, or mimics the natural water cycle. Green infrastructure is effective, economical, and enhances community safety and quality of life.

EXPLORE & DISCOVER KC'S GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE