Rowan University Foundation received a $1 million grant from TD Bank Group‘s 2022 TD Ready Challenge for its Green Jobs Academy of Rowan University initiative.
Rowan University, Rowan College of South Jersey and the SJ Workforce Development Board said they seek to establish a Green Jobs Academy to build pathways to required industry credentials in offshore wind and solar power to meet the state’s growing need to respond to the climate crisis, by developing a homegrown, green energy workforce, supporting those affected by carbon-based industry closures.
In all, 10 grant recipients were named (four U.S. and six Canadian-based organizations) in TD Bank’s annual initiative that seeks to support nonprofit and charitable organizations that are focused on developing innovative, impactful and measurable solutions for a changing world.
This year’s challenge focused on organizations supporting those who may be disproportionately affected by climate change — including people of color and indigenous communities, seniors and youth, low-income communities and people with disabilities — by working to design solutions to help prepare for, adapt to and mitigate the potential impacts of climate change, and/or initiatives that support the transition to a low-carbon economy.
“Climate change is a global issue that continues to have a growing impact on communities, on businesses and on the economy — but, specifically, on the economies of communities that are already struggling,” Shelley Sylva, head of U.S. corporate citizenship, TD Bank, stated. “A healthy environment is foundational to feeling confident about our economic future and the world we are leaving to the next generation. Supporting innovative programs and scalable solutions for our communities is a meaningful way we can support progress.”
This year’s recipients will focus on making an impact in communities across TD’s footprint through initiatives that include large-scale green infrastructure projects, the development of renewable energy solutions and workforce development/retraining opportunities.
“Opening doors for a more inclusive and sustainable future is core to our purpose as an organization,” Leo Salom, CEO and president, TD Bank, said. “Through this year’s TD Ready Challenge, we’re standing behind organizations with promising new ideas that support communities across our footprint and address the challenges of transitioning to a low-carbon economy.”
Each year, the Cherry-Hill based financial institution’s annual North American initiative seeks to support nonprofit and charitable organizations developing innovative, impactful and measurable solutions for a changing world.
Always themed around timely issues, in previous years, the TD Ready Challenge has focused on driving more equitable health outcomes, promoting income stability and addressing pandemic-related learning loss.
The three other $1 million U.S. 2022 TD Ready Challenge recipients were:
- Local Initiatives Support Corp.: Bridges to Green Jobs — Southern New England;
- Maine Farmland Trust: Climate Resilience for Maine Farms, supporting farm viability from the soil up — Northern New England;
- New York City Energy Efficiency Corp.: Addressing the Financial and Workforce Barriers for an Equitable Clean Energy Transition in NYC Affordable Housing and Low to Moderate Income Communities — Metro New York.
The TD Ready Challenge is part of TD’s longstanding commitment to creating a more inclusive and sustainable future. The bank has invested over $1 billion in clean technology and renewable energy projects and has set a target to become carbon neutral by 2050.
