Green Collared Job Corps starts marching

The United Way of Long Island is doing its part to help the region go green.

On Monday, after six weeks of training as part of a welfare-to-work program, 15 people will start new jobs helping local contractors weatherize special-needs housing for various agencies across the county. The United Way calls it the Green-Collared Job Corps.

The jobs are subsidized through a Suffolk Department of Social Services grant, with the Education & Assistance Corp. matching employees with contractors.

This is only the Corps' first class. Deer Park-based United Way is set to train a total of 325 people. 

A similar project is under way in Nassau. That program, with federal stimulus funds, will help program members get paid internships.