U.S. EPA Brownfields Job Training Program
North Star Center for Human Development
Hartford CT
NORTHS STAR
Center for Human Development im-.
Overview: North Star Center for Human Development is a nonprofit organization that was founded in Manchester,
Connecticut in 1995. North Star serves the City of Hartford and the State of Connecticut by providing employment
training, job opportunities, and affordable housing to residents who are suffering from unemployment,
underemployment, experienced long-term imprisonment
and/or who are in need of environmental technician
retraining. The organization also works to protect human
health by eliminating the risk of exposure to
Core Curriculum
OSHA- 40 hour HAZWOPER
OSHA- 10 hour Construction Safety Training
Toxicology & Human Physiology
Sampling Techniques (water and soil)
Weatherization
Mold Inspector, Mold Remediation- Supervisor
Solar & Alternative Energy
Asbestos Supervisor Initial
Personal Protective Equipment& Blood-Borne Pathogens
Lead RRP Initial (Renovation, Repair & Painting)
Lead Inspector Initial
Lead Supervisor Initial
Program Partners
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Malcolm Pirnie,
Brown & Caldwell, Manafort Brothers, Earth
Environmental, LLC., Blue Hills Civic Association,
Practical Energy Solutions, Envirguard, Connecticut
Coalition for Environmental Justice, Shabazz Services
Enterprises, LLC, Diversified Office Support, LLC, Capital
Workforce Partners and Goodwin College
contaminants, such as lead and asbestos, through the
assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of brownfields
in the community.
North Star was a recipient of a 2009 U.S. EPA
Brownfields Job Training Grant as part of the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The $500,000 of
funding enabled North Star to offer two to three job
training cycles per year for a three year period. Each
cycle was eight weeks in length and had an average
graduation class of 20-25 participants. Applicants that
were enrolled in the program have been from the
disadvantaged Hartford communities of Blue Hills, Clay
Arsenal, Northeast, and Upper Albany. Graduates that
complete the job training program have 320 hours of
Environmental Technician training, 14 certificates and 2
licenses from State of Connecticut.
Outcomes: North Star trainees partake in environmental remediation projects throughout the State of Connecticut.
The most notable project completed by North Star graduates is the cleanup and redevelopment of a very well known
building, a landmark eyesore in the heart of downtown Hartford, referred to as the "Butt Ugly" building. Due to the
abundance of lead, asbestos, and the presence of a leaking underground oil tank, this building has plagued the City
as a major economic and environmental issue for several years. North Star graduates that were involved in the "Butt
Ugly" project earned $41.00 per hour.
Other examples of job training graduates that have successfully completed the program and transit! oned into a career
in the environmental field include:
Debris Removal & Clean up- brownfield site: $15.00 per hour
Demolition/Asbestos Supervisor- Bank of America building and
local homes: $25.00 per hour
Lead Remediation (RRP) - Dimeo Construction: $14.25 per hour
Environmental Technicians - hazardous waste cleanup and oil spill
clean-up: $12.00 per hour
Mold Inspector- local churches/homes: $15.00 per hour
Lead Inspector- housing development: $17.00 per hour
General Labor- worksite cleanup: $9.25 per hour
General Labor/ fence installer- City of Hartford property: $25.00-$41.00 per hour
Asbestos Supervisor & PCB Removal- Chatfield Elementary School, CT: $25.00 per hour
Photo provided by North Star.
March 2011
Local Contact: Jewel Brown, North Star* (860) 246- 3526* jewelb@northstarchd.org
Region 1 EPA Contact: Kathy Castagna* (617) 918-1429»Castagna.Kathleen@epa.gov
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