GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE WORKFORCE COLLABORATIVE

The Collaborative

As cities adopt green stormwater infrastructure and nature-based solutions, building a strong, accessible workforce is a challenge. The Green Infrastructure Workforce Collaborative brings together partners from across Western Washington to tackle these issues–creating solutions that support living-wage jobs and connect skilled workers with employers. This voluntary, collaborative network includes individuals, organizations, schools, businesses, and government agencies working together without hierarchy.

Our Objectives

Provide a positive, collaborative space to share knowledge, challenges, and opportunities

Increase access to information and opportunities for internships, education, and long-term career positions within the GSI field

Advocate and actively shape equitable, living-wage, healthy, and safe career opportunities

Center racial equity in efforts to develop career pathways

Develop equitable and accessible on-ramps for early career and career transitions, including investing in mechanisms for training and mentorship

Be engaged in the effort to standardize Best Management Practices within GSI to contribute to sustainable career opportunities

Our Vision in Practice

The Collaborative created a regional curriculum to support equitable, living-wage careers in green infrastructure. In 2024, that curriculum was put into practice through Tacoma Green Resilience Opportunity Corps–a pilot training program for young adults in Pierce County. Led by Collaborative partners, the program combined classroom learning, hands-on experience, and job readiness support. Tacoma GRO Corps is now a model for how local training can grow the green workforce and connect people to climate resilient careers.

Image right: Cohort members building a residential rain garden in Tacoma, WA.
© Janieka Ellington / Palmer Scholars

Learnings and Opportunities: The Retrospective

Over the past five years, the Collaborative has expanded career access, developed training, launched pilot programs, and fostered collaboration–all while grounding efforts in frontline community needs. Our retrospective shares learnings and highlights opportunities to build a strong regional green infrastructure workforce.

Image left: Aerial view of High Point neighborhood green infrastructure and green space.
© Erin Spaulding

Connect with The Collaborative:

Collaborative members can support a number of ongoing efforts, including:

Implementing the Tacoma GRO Corps pilot to support workforce training in Pierce County
Continued adaptation and implementation of the Curriculum
Building visibility of the needs and opportunities within green infrastructure careers

Our Members Span the Puget Sound Region

Government (incl. Conservation Districts and Agencies at any/all levels)
Contractors & Trainers (incl. education, installation, and maintenance contractors/businesses)
Nonprofits (incl. Foundations, advocates, and project partners)
Frontline Communities

Collaborative Projects and Resources

The Collaborative launched in 2020 as a virtual convening group and since then has produced several projects:

We developed a 2 page overview explaining our mission, vision, and impact.

Through the professional facilitation of SM Watts Consulting, the group developed a Charter that established the working norms for the GSI Workforce Collaborative with diversity, equity, and inclusion at the core.

Published a retrospective featuring learnings and highlights from the Collaborative.

Developed a collaborative, regionally relevant curriculum focused on core, introductory green infrastructure skills including green stormwater infrastructure, urban forestry and other related fields.

Commissioned a research effort by the Seattle Jobs Initiative to understand the existing and growing ecosystem of careers and career paths within green infrastructure. The result is a report detailing this ecosystem and recommendations on how to address gaps and opportunities. The effort also produced an interactive dashboard.

Produced a report in 2021 titled “Building Equitable and Sustainable Careers,” that highlights the strengths, challenges and opportunities that the GSI Workforce Collaborative seeks to address.

The Nature Conservancy in Washington currently acts as the primary convener of the coalition with facilitator and strategic support from SM Watts Consulting.

Join us.

If you are interested in learning more or getting involved in the work of the Collaborative, share your interest and we will follow-up.